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In its digital decade strategy, the European Commission has put forward its vision for new strategic digital objectives for 2030. These should prepare Europe for the roll-out of the next generation of broadband infrastructure with gigabit speeds, including 5G, and for the digital transformation of the public and private sectors, while also reducing the digital divide. To measure progress towards the digital decade, the Commission is proposing a 'digital compass', with indicators based on four dimensions ...

Supported by the arrival of 5G and, soon 6G, digital technologies are evolving towards an artificial intelligence-driven internet of robotic and bionano things. The merging of artificial intelligence (AI) with other technologies such as the internet of things (IoT) gives rise to acronyms such as 'AIoT', 'IoRT' (IoT and robotics) and 'IoBNT' (IoT and bionano technology). Blockchain, augmented reality and virtual reality add even more technological options to the mix. Smart bodies, smart homes, smart ...

Recent events have multiplied concerns about potential fragmentation of the internet into a multitude of non-interoperable and disconnected 'splinternets'. Composed of thousands of compatible autonomous systems, the internet is by definition technically divided. Yet, the internet was also designed to be an open and global technical infrastructure. The unity and openness of the internet appear to be under great pressure from political, commercial and technological developments. This report explores ...

The EU’s subsea data cable network is both vital for global connectivity and vulnerable. This study provides a systematic review of the current security threats, as well as the actors at the origin of these threats. Building on reports and expert input, the paper takes stock of current awareness, preparedness and response mechanisms, both at the EU and Member State level. A number of recommendations suggest how to improve the resilience of the cable network. Proposals build on the need to enhance ...

The Roaming Regulation established the 'roam like at home' (RLAH) rule that mandated the end of retail mobile roaming charges as of 15 June 2017 in all EU Member States and EEA countries. The regulation is currently in force until 30 June 2022. The application of the RLAH rule has been a success, boosting the use of mobile devices while travelling to other EU/EEA countries. For instance, the use of data roaming increased 17 times in the summer of 2019 compared with the summer preceding the abolition ...

To ensure that consumers can continue to 'roam' in other Member States without additional charges, the European Commission proposed on 24 February 2021 to recast the current Roaming Regulation. The new regulation would extend the 'roam like at home' regime for 10 years until 2032. The European Parliament is expected to vote in plenary in March on the agreement reached in interinstitutional negotiations.

The EU supports the development of high-performing, sustainable and interconnected trans-European networks in the areas of transport, energy and digital infrastructure. It set up the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) as a dedicated financing instrument for the 2014-2020 period, to channel EU funding into the development of infrastructure networks, help eliminate market failures and attract further investment from the public and private sectors. Following a mid-term evaluation, the European Commission ...

To ensure efficient, modern and sustainable connections, the EU is developing trans-European networks in the areas of transport, digital and energy. In June 2018, the European Commission proposed to renew the main EU programme financing infrastructure, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), to speed up investment in key network projects. In parallel, the Commission proposed a mechanism to facilitate the permit-granting processes in the area of transport ('smart TEN-T'). The European Parliament is ...

This briefing finds that the Commission's impact assessment (IA) accompanying the regulation proposal (recast) on roaming is based on sound data and broad stakeholder consultations. Besides qualitative assessment, the IA presents also quantified estimates. The REFIT cost savings are only partially quantified. Further explanations would have benefited the analysis in the comparison of policy options.

Although there is no legal definition of a 'smart village' within EU legislation, there are a number of distinguishing features associated with the smart village concept, with the involvement of the local community and the use of digital tools being seen as core elements. The concept implies the participation of local people in improving their economic, social or environmental conditions, cooperation with other communities, social innovation and the development of smart village strategies. Digital ...