Blog: Vital support from industry for the EU 5G action plan - Hoofdinhoud

Last February, at the Mobile World Congress, I called on industry to join efforts and contribute to the formulation of an Action Plan for the deployment of 5G, the next generation of telecommunication networks. I am very pleased that industry responded to that call.

Over the last four months, representatives from European telecom operators and network technology providers but also from the automotive, manufacturing, media or healthcare sectors have worked intensely to develop and build consensus on ambitious goals and recommendations for the introduction of 5G technology in Europe.

Today, a high-level industry group presented its "5G Manifesto" and we had a strategic discussion on the challenges ahead. I very much welcome the 5G Manifesto and discussions today with the high-level industry group. These will help us focus on the key levers to ensure European digital leadership in 5G. I will come forward with a 5G Action Plan in the autumn

What is at stake with 5G is nothing less than Europe's global competitiveness. This morning I had a dedicated discussion on connected and automated driving, which is one of the areas where 5G technology will make a significant impact. Digitisation of industry is not waiting for 5G, obviously, and we have already started the journey. But 5G is needed to move one gear up, and envisage a European continent where everything that can be connected will be connected to offer new products and services and improve our quality of life and our competitiveness. We are all watching some football these days. But think about immersive TV or video powered by 5G, which makes you feel like you are in the football stadium watching the European championship, even if you sit in the back seat of your self-driving car. Or about high-speed trains where you have all the necessary connectivity to work like in your office. Or connected robots in factories that work together to assemble personalised products tailored to your unique preferences. Think augmented reality to choose which furniture fits best your new kitchen or to see the Coliseum in Rome at it was in glorious history. These are not futuristic illusions. Today, industry have confirmed to me that they are committed to showcase some of these 5G technologies in Europe, even before 2020 when it should be commercially available.

The availability and roll-out of 5G networks has become a top industrial policy priority in leading economies all over the world. In the United States, FCC chairman Tom Wheeler recently stated that 5G is a national priority, whilst the US administration is planning to release their choice for 5G frequency bands this summer. South Korea has already assigned frequencies to three national operators to foster rapid deployment around the 2018 winter Olympic Games. Similarly, Japan has announced spectrum selection already by the end of this year, whilst China has also announced spectrum availability for trials. In Europe, 5G is an essential technology to support digitalisation of industry in important vertical sectors such as automotive, health, smart factories or energy. Europe cannot afford to miss this opportunity and this is what the CEOs are saying.

In fact, the 5G manifesto identifies 5G as a key enabler for the digitisation of the European economy and society and emphasizes that cooperation between the telecom sector and user industries is important for the successful introduction of next generation networks. It also calls for the EU to increase its support for standardisation. Furthermore, there is demand for pan-European 5G trials and funding instruments to drive 5G ecosystems. In addition, the manifesto underlines the essential aspects of spectrum allocation and investment, and also suggests the year 2020 for the commercial launch of 5G in at least one city in each EU country.

The next step towards our Action Plan is the assessment of our public consultation on 5G. This will be followed by a formal Communication to the European Parliament and the Council. With our 5G Action Plan we can bring momentum and make sure that Member States work together towards a common practical goal: starting to deploy 5G in 2020 and making world class connectivity infrastructure available in support of digital businesses like automotive, health, energy, media and manufacturing. It should also help consolidate the position of EU industry as leading supplier industry for advanced ICT products and services and leverage the results of our 5G Public Private Partnership.

With the new momentum received from industry today, I am confident that Europe -the Commission, regions, Member States and industries- can rise to the challenge of being a leader in deploying the networks of the future and I am committed to play my part in this partnership.