In a provisional version of the future Digital Networks Act (DNA), the European Commission details what it hopes will be an overhaul of the digital network sector, with a central element being a much greater governance role for BEREC, the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications, to ensure the resilience of EU networks. The over 300-page document, which Agence Europe was able to obtain, is due to be presented by the Commission on Tuesday 20 January.
The preamble to the draft text proposes to facilitate European investment in this sector, including in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, and that “electronic communications networks and services shall be recognised as essential for the overall resilience of Union society and economy”.
In a bid to centralise the regulatory effort, the Commission is now planning to give BEREC a leading role, particularly with a view to mapping the risks to which European networks are exposed.
In particular, the draft text states that “by 12 months after entry into force (of the Regulation), BEREC shall adopt a report, entitled ‘Union Preparedness Plan for Digital Infrastructures’”.
The aim is to provide an overview of the state of Europe’s digital networks and to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the architecture, capacities, functionalities and use of electronic communications networks and other digital infrastructures.
The assessment must identify, among other things, “route diversification, potential bottlenecks or points of failure and areas where resilience-related measures [...] are needed”, the draft text explains in detail.
Other topics include harmonisation of radio spectrum policy, net neutrality, cloud connectivity, dispute resolution mechanisms, simplification and the single passport procedure to encourage investment and innovation.
However, this emphasis on network preparation is far from being a simple technical objective with the aim of developing “cutting-edge” technologies. In addition to resilience and security, the Commission also seeks to limit the dependence of certain essential digital infrastructures, in particular 5G and the cloud, on non-European suppliers (see EUROPE 13711/12).
To see the draft regulation: https://aeur.eu/f/k90 (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)