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Companies such as BT, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom, who signed the document, pledge to launch fast 5G mobile networks in every country in the EU by 2020. However, the manifesto sets out conditions for lighter regulation and less net neutrality.
What is net neutrality?
Net neutrality would mean equality amongst network providers, enabling free and open competition. No provider would be able to gain advantage over another, with all services and websites online treated fairly and without any preferential treatment or restrictions.
The 5G manifesto states:
“The EU and member states must reconcile the need for open internet with pragmatic rules that foster innovation.”
“The telecom industry warns that the current net neutrality guidelines, as put forward by BEREC (Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications), create significant uncertainties around 5G return on investment.”
“Investments are therefore likely to be delayed unless regulators take a positive stance on innovation and stick to it.”
The twenty telecoms providers who came together to create this manifesto believe reducing regulations will help foster innovation by utilising the new high-speed, high-capacity 5G network. The manifesto states 5G investments “are therefore likely to be delayed unless regulators take a positive stance on innovation and stick to it.”
Europe’s data network is in need of a move to 5G in order to free up available network space and increase speeds. This makes the manifesto a risky move for the telecom and mobile operators, given the European Commissions’ Digital Representative, Gunther Oettinger’s, long standing objection to net neutrality. However, this change may be necessary for European telecommunications if they are to compete against the US or Asia.
So what does 5G promise?
5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks and promises superfast downloading at speeds at 1000 times faster than that of 4G. With 5G, comes the possibility of ‘smart’ cities by bringing together wireless technologies, such as vehicles, smart road grids, buildings and health centres. Roll out is not expected until at least 2020.
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