14 - 18 March 2022 Update
ECTA MEMBERS SUPPORTING THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE
On 15 March ecta participated in a follow up meeting regarding the implementation of the EU sanctions to block Russia Today and Sputnik and other initiatives with BEREC, the European Commission (DG Connect), GSMA, ETNO, MVNO Europe and EuroISPA. The participants discussed the implementation of the sanction, the roaming issues and the additional assistance.
In addition to the above, ecta published the ecta members's actions to support the Ukrainian people.
More information can be found here.
BEREC
On 16 March BEREC held a public debriefing on the outcomes of the 50th BEREC meeting.
BEREC'S ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE
BEREC provided a summary on the actions taken so far regarding the situation in Ukraine (more information for which can be found here and here) and underlined its support towards the current initiatives by the European telecommunication sector such as providing SIM cards to refugees from Ukraine on arrival, providing free WiFi in camps for refugees from Ukraine, etc.
More information can be found here.
Next steps: BEREC will continue to coordinate with European associations of operators and the European Commission regarding further steps.
PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS
Public consultation on the Draft BEREC Guidelines on the Implementation of the Open Internet Regulation
BEREC launched a public consultation on the Draft Update to the BEREC Guidelines on the Implementation of the Open Internet Regulation and published an explanatory document in addition to the Draft Guidelines. The explanatory document aims to provide further information on the public consultation, the draft Guidelines and to outline BEREC's reading of the ECJ rulings.
More information can be found here.
Deadline: 14 April 2022 17:00 CET.
Next steps:The final guidelines and the consultation report will be published in June 2022.
Public consultation on Draft BEREC Report on Sustainability: Assessing BEREC’s contribution to limiting the impact of the digital sector on the environment
BEREC launched a public consultation on the Draft BEREC Report on Sustainability: Assessing BEREC’s contribution to limiting the impact of the digital sector on the environment. The document provides an overview of the results of BEREC’s groundwork on ICT sustainability to assess and better understand the impact of the digital sector, including electronic communications networks and services, on the environment. It sets out an outline of BEREC’s approach to environmental sustainability of the sector.
BEREC further published an External Sustainability Study on Environmental impact of electronic communications.
More information can be found here.
Deadline: 15 April 2022 (17:00 CET).
Next steps: The publication of the final report and the report of the outcomes of the public consultation will be published in June 2022.
Public consultation on BEREC Work Programme (WP) 2023
BEREC invited the interested parties to provide an early input on the WP 2023. The WP 2023 will be further discussed on the upcoming 10th Stakeholder Forum on 23 March 2022.
The objectives of BEREC's work in 2023 continue to be based on the mandatory tasks stemming from the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) and its four main goals coming out of Article 3 (2) EECC, as follows: promoting connectivity and access to very high capacity networks, promoting competition and efficient investment, contributing to the development of the internal market, promoting the interest of the citizens of the Union.
More information can be found here.
Deadline for input: 15 April 2022.
Next steps: The adoption of the draft WP 2023 is scheduled for 06 October 2022. The adoption of the final WP is scheduled for 08 December 2022.
OTHER PUBLISHED BEREC DOCUMENTS
In addition to the above, during the meeting BEREC presented the following documents:
(*) An overview of the BEREC work on the Open Radio Access Network (RAN).
(*) Regarding the regulatory treatment for fixed and mobile backhaul BEREC issued two Reports: BEREC Report on the regulatory treatment for fixed and mobile backhaul and BEREC Report on the outcome of the public consultation on the Draft BEREC Report on the regulatory treatment for fixed and mobile backhaul.
(*) BEREC’s response to the public consultation on the European Commission’s (EC) draft revised Guidelines on State aid for broadband networks.
CONNECTING EUROPE FACILITY
The European Commission extended the deadline for the first set of calls for proposal under the Connecting Europe Facility Digital Programme. The programme has a planned budget of €258 million to improve Europe's digital connectivity infrastructures, in particular Gigabit and 5G networks across the Union, and contribute to Europe’s digital transformation.
More information can be found here.
Extended deadline: 20 April 2022.
DIGITAL SERVICES ACT AND DIGITAL MARKETS ACT
Digital Services Act
The third political trilogue on the Digital Services Act was held on 16 March. EURACTIV reports that the French Presidency has prepared a compromise text on the dark patterns, protection of minors and compensation.
EURACTIV's article can be found here.
DIGITAL MARKETS ACT
EURACTIV reports that the EU institutions have been working towards an agreement on the Digital Markets Act. A high-level meeting is scheduled for next week on which the EU institutions will discuss the gatekeeper obligations, the scope and the governance issues.
EURACTIV's article can be found here.
CYBER RESILIENCE ACT
The European Commission launched a public consultation to gather the views and experiences of all the relevant parties on the forthcoming European Cyber Resilience Act.
The Cyber Resilience Act will complement the existing EU legislative framework, which includes the Directive on the security of Network and Information Systems (NIS Directive) and the Cybersecurity Act, as well as the future Directive on measures for high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (NIS 2) that the Commission proposed in December 2020.
More information can be found here.
Feedback period: 16 March 2022 - 25 May 2022 (midnight Brussels time).
NEXT-GENERATION INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT)
The European Commission published a Roadmap for the Next-Generation IoT in Europe which contains projections and priorities for research and deployment in IoT and edge computing from 2021 to 2027 across Europe and beyond.
More information can be found here.
The next steps and a follow-up will take place during the upcoming IoT Week, taking place in Dublin from 20-23 June 2022.
EU SPACE POLICY: SPACE-BASED SECURE CONNECTIVITY
The European Commission launched a public consultation on EU space policy: space-based secure connectivity initiative. The initiative aims to better protect businesses, the public authorities and the general public against cyber- and hybrid threats.
More information can be found here.
Feedback period: 17 March 2022 - 12 May 2022 (midnight Brussels time).
EUROPEAN CHIPS ACT PACKAGE
The European Commission launched a public consultation on the Proposal for a Regulation establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe's semiconductor ecosystem (Chips Act).
More information can be found here.
Feedback period: 14 March 2022 - 09 May 2022 (midnight Brussels time).
DATA ACT & AMENDED RULES ON THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF DATABASES
The European Commission launched a public consultation on Data Act (including the review of the Directive 96/9/EC on the legal protection of databases). The initiative aims to increase access to and further use of data, so that more public and private actors can benefit from techniques such as Big Data and machine learning.
More information can be found here.
Feedback period: 14 March 2022 - 09 May 2022 (midnight Brussels time).