EU Connectivity and Competitiveness: BEREC Chair's Remarks

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Published February 18th, 2026

Detected March 13th, 2026

Summary

BEREC Chair Marko Mišmaš emphasized the critical role of connectivity in strengthening European sovereignty and competitiveness at the Future Connectivity Summit Europe. Discussions focused on modernizing the Digital Networks Act, fostering investment, and ensuring secure and resilient networks.

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What changed

At the Future Connectivity Summit Europe on February 18, 2026, BEREC Chair Marko Mišmaš highlighted that connectivity is a strategic pillar for European sovereignty, resilience, competitiveness, and security, especially in light of the upcoming Digital Networks Act (DNA). He stressed the need for regulatory modernization that enhances market stability and competition, rather than destabilizing it. Discussions also covered the interplay of AI and connectivity, advocating for regulatory sandboxes and balanced AI regulation to foster innovation and investment.

Regulated entities, particularly telecommunications firms, should note the focus on regulatory simplification, harmonization, and legal certainty under the new DNA. The emphasis on secure and resilient networks, in collaboration with bodies like ENISA and the European Commission, signals a heightened focus on cybersecurity and geopolitical resilience. While no specific compliance deadlines are mentioned, the discussions suggest a strategic shift towards prioritizing these areas in future regulatory frameworks.

What to do next

Review upcoming Digital Networks Act (DNA) provisions for impact on connectivity services.
Assess current network security and resilience measures against evolving EU priorities.
Monitor developments regarding regulatory sandboxes for AI and new technologies.

Source document (simplified)

19 February 2026

Driving Europe’s connectivity and competitiveness

At the Future Connectivity Summit Europe on 18 February 2026, the BEREC Chair Marko Mišmaš (AKOS, Slovenia) said that connectivity now plays a decisive role in strengthening European sovereignty and can no longer be seen as a purely sectoral concern. Instead, connectivity has become a strategic pillar for underpinning Europe’s resilience, competitiveness and security in an increasingly complex global landscape.

In the lead-up to the adoption of the new Digital Networks Act (DNA), BEREC Chair stressed that the new regulatory framework must modernise, and not destabilise. He described the forthcoming Regulation as a major opportunity for enhancing Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability. At the same time, he warned that competitiveness must not come at the expense of competition.

The BEREC Chair clarified that in 2026 the European regulators will focus on regulatory simplification, harmonisation, and legal certainty, to ensure that modernisation strengthens the market without creating instability.

In his keynote speech, Marko Mišmaš identified the importance of secure connectivity, the development of 6G, maintaining an open internet, fostering investments, and supporting a vibrant digital ecosystem. He recognised that these issues are all interconnected and must be addressed together as part of a single strategic conversation about Europe’s digital future.

BEREC stands ready to contribute independently, pragmatically, and constructively ensuring that Europe’s connected future is secure, resilient, and future-ready.

Digital investment and regulation

Achieving full gigabit connectivity by 2030 requires an acceleration of investment, the BEREC Chair Marko Mišmaš said during the panel discussion on the interplay between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and connectivity. The discussion focused on how an advanced digital infrastructure supports AI innovation and the challenges that Europe faces in building a resilient, future-proof digital ecosystem. The BEREC Chair suggested expanding the so-called ‘regulatory sandboxes’ to enable the rapid testing and scaling of new technologies. This approach would help ensure that an advanced infrastructure and innovation tools are available across Europe, and not just in major tech centres. Marko Mišmaš added that AI regulation must provide a clear, balanced framework that aligns standards, legal clarity, and proportional obligations. Regulation should reflect the technical realities and avoid sanctions before standards are established. At the same time, it should offer proportionate support to growing European scale-ups to foster innovation, investment, and AI development across Europe.

Secure and resilient networks

The Summit participants also discussed security and resilience that have become a central policy priority. In the panel discussion on network security and resilience, Katja Kmet-Vrčko (the BEREC Contact Network Chair and Cybersecurity and Resilience Working Group Co-Chair) highlighted BEREC’s active role in strengthening EU cybersecurity capabilities and network resilience. She stressed that collaboration with the NIS Cooperation Group, ENISA, and the European Commission is essential, and no longer just optional.

Building on the discussion on secure and resilient networks, Katja Kmet-Vrčko underlined that the proposed DNA sends a strong and timely signal by treating resilience as a core priority. In her remarks, she welcomed the fact that the current proposal addresses network resilience in a serious and structured manner — a recognition of the realities Europe faces today. Against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and an increasingly fragile geopolitical environment and climate changes, resilient and reliable communications networks are essential. However, legislation alone will not be sufficient to guarantee resilience. Effective implementation will depend on close coordination among multiple stakeholders, including national governments, regulators, operators and other public authorities.

Beyond the legislative debate, BEREC is actively contributing its efforts to mitigate supply chain risks in order to strengthen the resilience of electronic communications networks. It is also examining the role of national regulatory authorities by mapping competences, promoting the exchange of best practices, facilitating stakeholder dialogue and providing expert input to forthcoming European initiatives.

BEREC Chair Marko Mišmaš during his keynote speech at the Forum Europe Future Connectivity Summit Europe.

BEREC Chair Marko Mišmaš engaging during the panel discussion on the interplay between Artificial Intelligence and connectivity at the Forum Europe Future Connectivity Summit Europe.

BEREC Cybersecurity and Resilience Working Group Co-Chair Katja Kmet-Vrčko engaging during the panel discussion on network security and resilience at the Forum Europe Future Connectivity Summit Europe.

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