Parliament has welcomed European connectivity targets and has made an appeal for the errors committed in 4G deployment not to be repeated. In an own-initiative report adopted on 1 June, Parliament calls for sufficient funding to be provided and for emphasis to be placed on European level coordination.
The document was prepared by Michal Boni (EPP, Poland) and constitutes a European Parliament response to the package presented by the Commission on 14 September last (see EUROPE 11624). It welcomes and supports the medium-term targets for the gigabit society, which consists in reaching a connection speed of 100 Mbit/s for all European consumers. It also welcomes the fact that the Commission is proposing to define a 5G action plan that will make the Union a global leader in the introduction of standardised 5G networks between 2020 and 2025. It does, however, refer to the experience of 4G, where the EU lacked coordination and was overtaken by the US, South Korea and Japan.
In this context, MEPs are calling on the Commission to assess the national programmes in broadband, identify delays and formulate recommendations for the different countries in the future. They also highlight the importance of standardisation and funding. On the first issue, they support the adoption of common and sectoral standards. They point out that, “each sector should elaborate its own standardisation roadmap… with a clear determination to develop common standards that have the potential of being adopted at an international level”. On the second question, they call on the Commission, “to ensure, maintain and develop long-term financing for the 5G action plan and modernisation of the network at the appropriate level in the perspective of the next 2020-27 multiannual financial framework”. This is in the knowledge that according to the Commission’s own forecasts, there is currently a shortfall of €155 billion when it comes to achieving the connectivity targets.
For all other questions, the resolution underlines the importance of having a robust fibre-optic network as the connecting infrastructure. In an effort to promote the development of connected vehicles, it is recommending the introduction of a European objective that ensures that all vehicles available on the Union market are connected to 5G and are equipped with on-board STI and that the objective of developing a network of ambulances and other emergency vehicles with the base station, is supported.
The “Internet Connectivity for growth, competitiveness and cohesion: the European gigabit and 5G society” report was adopted with 516 votes in favour, 65 against, with 42 abstentions. The text for the report can be seen at:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A8-2017-0184&language=en (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)