Promoting broadband investment and sustaining competition – can both go hand in hand?

The main aim of the European Commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe is to promote ultra-fast Internet connectivity in Europe, amongst others by fostering the deployment of New Generation Access networks. Based on policy declarations by Commissioner Kroes of July 2012, a currently discussed Commission proposal, aiming to boost investment in broadband and stabilize wholesale prices for network access, has been met with substantial opposition. Concerns have been raised that the suggested conditions might benefit former monopolists and hamper EU competition rules. Are such allegations substantiated? Is there a lack of policy vision from opposing stakeholder groups? And how can fast deployment of broadband access be ensured without compromising competition, thus ensuring a healthy broadband market development?

Expert panel:

·       Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, Director, European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE)

·       Eduardo Martinez Rivero, Head of Unit Antitrust – Telecoms, DG Competition, European Commission

·       Lisa Di Feliciantonio, Head of Regulatory and EU Policy, Fastweb

·       Luigi Gambardella, Chairman, The European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ETNO)

Moderation by Peter Strempel, Director at Edelman Brussels and Coordinator of The Centre.

This event is by invitation only. Should you be interested to attend, please email  meet@thecentre.eu and we will try to accommodate your request.’

As such we can politely reject a) officials, b) media and c) competitors from other agencies as the latter are – for hopefully understandable reasons – not our preferred target audience. 

Registration and sandwich lunch from 12:00