Europe’s telecom operators will receive a significant boost under a European Commission proposal announced on Wednesday, allowing them to use radio spectrum for an unlimited duration. The proposal, known as the Digital Networks Act, is part of a wider overhaul of EU telecom rules that must still be approved by member states and the European Parliament before it can take effect. Currently, spectrum licences are issued for a minimum of 20 years.
The Commission said longer and renewable licences will improve predictability and consistency across the bloc, supporting investment in the telecom sector. The move is also aimed at helping the EU achieve full fibre coverage between 2030 and 2035 across its 27 member states. A senior Commission official said unlimited spectrum licensing sends a clear signal that the telecom sector remains worth investing in.
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said high-performance, resilient digital infrastructure is essential to strengthen Europe’s leadership in innovation, competitiveness, and digital sovereignty. She added that the Commission’s goal is a digital environment where new technologies are readily available, affordable, and governed by fair and trustworthy rules that benefit people. The Commission will also set out the duration of spectrum licensing, conditions for frequency sales, and a pricing methodology for national regulators during spectrum auctions.
Telecom operators, including Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, and Telecom Italia, have long argued that Big Tech should pay a network fee because they generate a large share of internet traffic. The Digital Networks Act, however, stopped short of imposing such a requirement. Instead, it proposed a voluntary cooperation mechanism between telecom providers and tech giants such as Google, Netflix, and Meta Platforms to support infrastructure rollout. The Act also allows governments to extend the 2030 deadline for replacing copper networks with fibre if more time is needed for the transition.