Regulatory strategy
Share your details to receive the whitepaper on the EU DNA’s global regulatory impact.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from HubSpot. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationFive questions for non-EU regulators.
CAPs, network costs and neutrality
The draft DNA preserves open-internet principles while asking NRAs to facilitate collaboration and voluntary conciliation, leaving Fair Share unresolved but visible.
Expanded interconnection scope
Private networks, content-delivery infrastructure and some digital services could move closer to telecom oversight, raising questions about authorization and scope.
Spectrum duration and fees
The DNA points toward long or potentially indefinite spectrum rights with reviews, shifting attention from auctions to annual fees, efficient use and investment incentives.
SMP remedies and access
A hierarchy of remedies would push regulators toward passive infrastructure access before traditional wholesale broadband controls, while symmetrical duties may grow.
What regulators should watch in the EU DNA
Net neutrality and CAPs
The whitepaper explains why the Fair Share debate did not become a direct dispute settlement mechanism in the draft DNA. Instead, NRAs would provide guidance to facilitate ecosystem collaboration and a facility for voluntary conciliation. For non-EU regulators, this is a signal to watch how evidence gathering may lead to more interventionist approaches later.
Interconnection scope
The draft DNA expands the definition of interconnection from public networks to private and public networks, including CAP-owned content-delivery infrastructure. It also creates uncertainty around authorization boundaries and the oversight of information society and digital services in IP interconnection contexts.
Spectrum reform
Article 24 points toward spectrum rights granted in principle for an infinite duration, subject to NRA reviews every 20 years. If implemented, this could reduce future auction activity and put greater focus on annual fees, efficient use, trading, leasing and the investment incentives required for 6G leadership.
Market analysis remedies
The draft DNA introduces a hierarchy of remedies for significant market power analysis. Access to passive facilities comes before more traditional wholesale broadband remedies, while symmetric obligations for wiring, ducts, poles, masts and dark fiber may also become more relevant outside market analysis.
Copper switch-off and fiber
The proposed copper switch-off framework supports a transition to FTTH while raising questions about affordability, uneconomic fiber rollout, treatment of commercially sensitive planning data, and the role of alternatives such as FWA and satellite in lower-density areas.
Global regulatory impact
The author argues that debates around the draft DNA are likely to filter into policy and regulatory discussions in developing markets. Similar conversations are expected around OTT relationships, licensing and authorization, network contributions, spectrum fees and national broadband plans.
Expert perspective
Understand how the EU DNA could influence telecom policy beyond Europe.
Key figures behind the draft Digital Networks Act.
EU DNA in numbers
Figures from the draft DNA debate and copper switch-off discussion show why regulators worldwide should watch the proposal closely.
343
The draft DNA is described in the source text as 343 pages long, combining and updating four pieces of EU telecoms legislation.
20y
Spectrum rights would in principle be granted for an infinite duration, with national regulatory authority reviews every 20 years.
95%
Copper switch-off is triggered when an area has 95% fiber coverage and affordable retail connectivity services are available.
2035
The goal is to complete copper switch-off by the end of 2035, after national plans, annual lists of switch-off areas and NRA assessments.
€327B
Copper switch-off is estimated in the source text to deliver economic uplift of up to €327 billion, alongside CO2 emission reduction.
Expertise in spectrum and regulatory strategy.
Dr. Richard Majoor
Senior Manager
