LIVE FROM GSMA MOBILE 360 EUROPE: Gunther Oettinger wants Europe to maintain 5G momentum in the face of increasing global competition, as he opened up on the European Commission’s consultation process for its 5G action plan, launched yesterday.

Oettinger, commissioner for digital economy and society at the EC, told delegates at GSMA’s m360 Europe event in Brussels that the “5G international agenda is accelerating”, pointing out the efforts of the US, Japan, South Korea and China in particular, and said the commission was now keen to work with the telecoms sector and vertical industries in driving 5G forward.

The consultation process, announced yesterday and running until 11 July, builds on the commission’s action plan for 5G, announced at Mobile World Congress 2016, and will see the commission seek views on key issues when it comes to 5G European deployment.

This includes when will be the right time to introduce the network, “the core services to consider as priority, and the desirable spectrum to be used for 5G”, as well as well the right approach towards standards, regulation, investments, and the tools for a coordinated launch.

“We need to foster deployment with the telecoms sector and vertical industries, so we are now asking you to join this effort,” he said. “It will comprise of proposals to deploy 5G networks, overcome possible obstacles, and announce key milestones to showcase and demonstrate 5G technologies.”

Spectrum
Focusing on spectrum in particular, Oettinger said Europe needed more “flexibility in identifying spectrum of European relevance, adding that its supposed rival nations like the US and Japan had “already identified 5G bands to initiate services”.

“Europe needs to fast track procedure for this,” he added.

During the keynote speech, Oettinger reiterated the benefits Europe’s proposed single digital market would bring for spectrum harmonisation, and spoke of his desire to ensure that investment from operators in future high speed networks will generate the appropriate returns.

“A digital single market based on effective spectrum management is more important than ever,” he said. “We want all Europeans to benefit from connectivity serving their needs, and Europe needs to have the best in class networks.”