Telecom Executives Urged Digital Networks Act Reform
Elisa leadership argued that updated European policy is essential for the region to sustain 5G and fiber competitiveness.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Telecommunications
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Elisa executive vice president Kati Nyman has called on European legislators to overhaul the proposed Digital Networks Act. Telecom leaders argue the current framework fails to provide the necessary incentives for long-term infrastructure investment.
Why it matters
The proposed regulation seeks to shift the market from legacy copper monopolies toward modern fiber and 5G networks, a move deemed vital for supporting the infrastructure demands of AI and cloud services. Current policy is viewed as an impediment to the innovation required to compete globally with the United States and Asia.
Operators are advocating for longer spectrum license periods and more predictable renewal conditions to de-risk capital-intensive deployments. These changes are intended to provide the stability required to scale 5G infrastructure and plan for future 6G technology cycles.
The players
Elisa
A Finnish telecommunications operator that provides fiber and 5G connectivity services and maintains a collaborative security risk assessment model with regional authorities.
Kati Nyman
The executive vice president and chief of staff at Elisa who is currently advocating for regulatory changes to support European connectivity investment.
The details
The Digital Networks Act aims to modernize the European telecom landscape by moving away from rules established during the era of copper-wire dominance. By fostering an environment where authorities and operators like the Finnish carrier Elisa can collaborate on security risk assessments, proponents hope to create a more resilient network fabric. This architecture is considered a foundational prerequisite for the compute-heavy workloads of next-generation cloud services and digital public utilities.
Timeline
October 2, 2026: Article publication date regarding industry feedback on the act.
Five to ten years from now: Expected window for tangible impacts of successful legislative reform.
The Tech Race
The Digital Networks Act represents the primary legislative effort to define Europe's telecommunications future. Industry leaders argue that failing to secure more predictable investment conditions will keep the region behind the pace set by Asian and American infrastructure development.
Readers should expect that changes to this act will dictate the pace at which fiber and 5G connectivity reach European markets over the next decade. Improved investment conditions are meant to accelerate the availability of high-speed infrastructure necessary for digital public services and AI integration.
The takeaway
Legislative updates are the main variable determining whether European networks can support future 6G demand. Industry observers should monitor the European Parliament for finalized spectrum renewal terms and investment guarantees.
Further reading
For broader context on current industry shifts, see Telecommunications.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Euractiv DE.
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