What tech companies wanted at D9+ meeting vs what happened

With digital ministers from across Europe gathering in Dublin last week, several tech companies banded together to call on the European Commission to step up progress on connectivity and digitalization across the continent.

Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Vodafone published the joint statement two days before the D9+ group – a gathering of digital ministers from 12 of the European Union’s “digital frontrunners” – were due to meet in the Irish capital.

The statement from the five companies called on the D9+ to “stimulate Europe’s digital competitiveness” by adopting emerging technologies, establishing a more advanced digital infrastructure, and increasing productivity.

The companies asked the D9+ ministers to consider prioritising a handful of issues that they believe will improve the region’s digital competitiveness.

Here’s a summary of what they asked for at D9+- and what they actually got

One true digital single market (and less regulation)

Many of the companies’ demands centre on cutting regulation in one form or another. The statement appealed to the D9+ to push forward with the creation of a true digital single market, which the companies believe could be achieved by avoiding any increase in the regulatory burden around network deployments, and ensuring that the EU’s current digital regulation is used consistently, for example.

The grouping also stressed the importance of supporting up-and-coming technologies, including quantum computing and artificial intelligence, and asked ministers to ensure cybersecurity policies and critical infrastructure are ready for any increase in their use. It also advised ministers to incentivise private sector investment in such areas and improve the way R&D funding mechanisms work across the region.

The statement raised questions about the way B2B and B2C businesses are regulated in Europe, arguing that the former tend to have more guardrails in place around their operations, and recommending that they should not be regulated in the same way as consumer-facing companies.

Mobile network boost and thriving markets

The five companies advocated the ministers tackle issues around mobile network rollouts, arguing that the EU’s policies around network deployments are outdated and that spectrum allocation should be reviewed.

They called for greater harmonisation between countries around allocation and an increase in the duration of mobile spectrum licences, in order to encourage the spread of 5G and, later on, subsequent generations of mobile technologies.

According to the most recent figures from the European 5G Observatory, the European Union has an average of 79 5G base stations per 100,000 inhabitants, while South Korea has 419, China has 206, and Japan 118. The US, meanwhile, has 30.

The companies’ final recommendation to digital ministers was a vague request that they “foster policies that make trusted companies thrive in Europe”, including by cooperating with “like-minded countries” outside of the bloc.

Four out of the top ten most digitally competitive companies are within the European Union, according to research from the Institute for Management Development – the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Only the minister for the latter did not attend the D9+ meeting.

Tech companies D9+ outcome

The five companies may well be pleased with the results of the meeting, at least as far as regulation is concerned. A statement from the D9+ ministers said they will work with the EC to ensure the region’s digital regulation is implemented in an effective and coherent manner, with a “high threshold for further digital regulation” in future.

The ministers added they are seeking to ensure “SMEs and innovative companies flourish and are not overburdened when it comes to regulatory requirements”.

The ministers also appear to be taking the issue of creating an environment for companies to thrive in seriously, saying they aim to foster more “European unicorns” by removing barriers to growth for start-ups, including making sure more risk capital is available.