Cloud & edge computing services report, large CAPs impact on electronic communications networks and services report and draft Work Programme 2025 now open for stakeholder input

Effective collaboration with stakeholders is essential for BEREC in achieving its goal of improving the consistent and harmonised application of regulatory rules in the European Union. During the public debriefing on 13 March, BEREC Chair Tonko Obuljen (HAKOM, Croatia) and other speakers presented the outcomes of the recent BEREC plenary meetings. 

Call for input to the draft Work Programme 2025 
The incoming BEREC Chair, Robert Mourik (ComReg, Ireland), outlined the process for developing BEREC’s Work Programme 2025 and encouraged stakeholders to share their ideas and propose projects to be included in BEREC’s work for next year. The deadline for stakeholders to submit written inputs for the draft BEREC’s Work Programme 2025 is 9 April 2024. The incoming Chair also invited stakeholders to use the opportunity to meet BEREC experts in person at its annual event, the BEREC Stakeholder Forum, which will take place on 26 March 2024, in Brussels. 

Meet our experts in person
The annual event will keep the established tradition of the Meet&Greet sessions in the morning and the Conference in the afternoon. Meet&Greet features short, informal meetings with the BEREC Working Group Co-Chairs, whilst the Conference will consist of several panel discussions and a key note speech focusing on trends and challenges as well as the security and resilience of the digital infrastructure in Europe. Registration for the event is still open. The event will be livestreamed on the BEREC website and its social media platforms X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube.

As the BEREC Stakeholder Forum will serve as a platform for exchanging views on the European Commission’s White Paper, How to master Europe’s digital infrastructure needs, the BEREC Chair has stated that in the coming months BEREC will formulate its opinion and contribute to the Commission’s public consultation. 

Large CAPs impact on electronic communication networks & services 
BEREC experts have recently researched the business models and strategies of large content and application providers (CAPs). At the public debriefing, BEREC launched a public consultation on the draft report summarising the findings on market dynamics and the relationship between CAPs and traditional electronic communications network and service (ECN/ECS) providers regarding competition, cooperation and interdependence, where three different cases studies are analysed in greater detail (content delivery networks, submarine cables and internet relay services). The draft document also provides insights into potential restrictions that operating system providers may impose on ECN/ECS operators. BEREC is seeking stakeholders' feedback on the draft document by 24 April.

Cloud and edge computing services 
The BEREC draft report on cloud and edge computing services is aimed at shedding light on the impact of cloud computing in the digital sector, in particular in the electronic communication sector, and its regulatory implications. It describes the functioning of cloud service markets, interoperability, switching remedies, and the interplay and convergent trends between cloud and electronic communications from various angles. Against this backdrop, some regulatory considerations related to network cloudification are identified. The Planning and Future Trends Working Group Co Chairs introduced the key elements of the draft report at the debriefing. This document is now open for public consultation until 24 April. 

Upcoming BEREC events

14 March 2024 – online workshop on digital networks developments: players and strategies. During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to learn about BEREC’s ongoing work relating to cloud and edge computing services and the entry of CAPs into the market for ECN/ECS. Registration for the workshop will close on 13 March 2024, in the afternoon. The workshop will be recorded, and a video published on the BEREC website soon after the event. 

26 March 2024, in Brussels, Belgium and online – 12th BEREC Stakeholder Forum. This major annual BEREC public event gathers top level telecoms professionals, experts, policy makers and businesses to engage on future oriented topics of common interest. It provides an opportunity to meet the BEREC Working Group Co-Chairs in person. This year, the major focus will be on the digital infrastructures, namely their trends and security issues. Registration is still open. The transcript and livestream recording will be available after the event. 

9 April 2024 – in Brussels, Belgium and online workshop on the end users rights. At the event, the participants will discuss how market and technological developments are affecting the rights of end-users and their ability to make free and informed choices and other rights stemming from the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC), and whether any lack of these abilities has caused or is causing market distortions or end-user harm.The outcomes of the workshop will be considered preparing the BEREC Opinion on Article 123 of the EECC. 
Registration for participation in the event is open until 22 March 2024.

11 April 2024, in Brussels, Belgium and online – Workshop on ex ante regulatory experience concerning commitments, wholesale-only undertakings and commercial agreements review. The debate will touch upon the conditions regarding the network sharing commitments, the mechanisms for risk sharing for VHCN element investments, the potential impact of commercial agreements, and fair and reasonable pricing for wholesale-only operators. Registration for participation in the event in Brussels, Belgium, is open until 24 March 2024. Remote participants may express their interest until 9 April 2024. 

For more information on the BEREC upcoming events, consult our website and subscribe. 
Public documents available online

A full list of BEREC’s public documents adopted at the 58th ordinary meetings (7-8 March 2024) are available on the BEREC website, while the presentation and the video recording of the BEREC public debriefing will be available shortly. The 59th BEREC ordinary meetings will take place on 6-7 June 2024, in Latvia. The next BEREC public debriefing will be held on 12 June 2024, online.