Speaking at an invitation only roundtable discussion held by Oxera (Belgium) on: The New Electronic Communications and Digital Infrastructure Regulatory Framework: what does the economic evidence say? on 23 October 2025, BEREC Incoming Chair 2027, Ms. Alejandra de Iturriaga Gandini (CNMC, Spain), outlined BEREC’s strategic vision for the future of telecom regulation in Europe. She underlined that the current regulatory framework has delivered significant benefits in terms of competition, investment, innovation and consumer protection. She further acknowledged the importance that regulation remains fit for purpose keeping pace of the market and technological developments to come. The next phase of digital development, bringing innovations such as AI-native networks, direct-to-device communications or networks-as-a service, all of which will cater for a range of new products and services, are to be supported by an appropriate and new next generation regulatory regime.

During the roundtable with other distinguished guests including Dr. Kamila Kloc, Director for the Digital Decade and Connectivity at the European Commission, Ms. de Iturriaga Gandini reaffirmed that competition is the main incentive to drive investments, and Europe’s telecoms markets have made strong progress in terms of VHCN deployments while keeping affordable prices. She also set out that the Digital Networks Act is a good opportunity to simplify and update regulation for the upcoming challenges, but the case for radical change to a framework which has served European citizens well has manifestly not been made.

The future of SMP Regulation

Ms. de Iturriaga Gandini stressed the importance of BEREC’s view that both asymmetric and symmetric regulation remains necessary so as to address competition issues in most Member States. She set out that removing or weakening these tools could lead to inefficient functioning markets and negative market structures. During the discussion on the future of SMP regulation, Ms Iturriaga Gandini, reaffirmed that for its part, BEREC remains committed to a predictable set of access rules that can support competitive outcomes and investment certainty, whilst seeking to enhance efforts in simplifying procedures for faster regulatory decision making.

Oxera (Belgium) roundtable, 23 October

Oxera Consulting LLP (limited liability partnership) is an economics and finance consultancy with offices based in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and United Kingdom. The Oxera (Belgium) roundtable discussion for senior representatives was held in person by invitation only on 23 October. The roundtable examined two key themes: the future of SMP Regulation and the economics of the wider internet value chain. BEREC thanks Oxera for the opportunity to participate at the event.