Backed by Telecommunications and Vertical Industry Players, 5G Manifesto Lays Groundwork for Launch of Commercial 5G Services in Europe by 2020

Brussels: The GSMA announced its support of the “5G Manifesto for Timely Deployment of 5G in Europe”, which was presented at a meeting today between Commissioner Oettinger and CEOs from across the telecommunications and applications industries. The 5G Manifesto is designed to foster collaboration between companies in the telecommunications industry and key vertical sectors, facilitate the development and growth of the European digital ecosystem, and encourage an investment-centric policy framework.

“As mobile technology progresses towards 5G, Europe has a critical opportunity to reclaim a leading digital role and extend fast mobile connectivity to all of its citizens,” said John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer, GSMA. “Because 5G is still a nascent technology, the steps we take today to foster an enabling environment will be crucial in ensuring the future success of this technology and in re-establishing Europe’s position as a leader in innovation.”

European 5G leadership, spurred by partnership between government and industry, can harness the full power of digital to deliver growth and jobs, achieve a more inclusive society with better public services, and support a thriving and competitive European Digital Single Market. Working with its members and partners, the GSMA is contributing to the strategic, commercial and regulatory development of Europe’s 5G ecosystem.

European 5G leadership will be driven by private sector investment and innovation, backed by a fresh approach to regulation that keeps pace with dynamic and converging markets. For Europe to fully leverage its mobile pedigree and better exploit its Digital Single Market scale, policymakers must reform the regulatory framework to incentivise a step change in connectivity investment and provide enhanced coordination in spectrum management to promote the roll out of advanced mobile solutions across industries.

“We welcome and share the Commission’s political ambition that Europe should be a global leader in 5G,” continued Giusti. “We look forward to working closely with stakeholders from key vertical industry sectors and policymakers to accelerate the development of 5G in Europe and, in doing so, deliver the benefits of high-speed connectivity and services to businesses and consumers across the continent.”

-ENDS-

About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with almost 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai and the Mobile 360 Series conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.

Media Contacts:
Olivier Lechien
PR Director, Europe
GSMA (Brussels)
+32 (0) 479 99 01 63
[email protected]

GSMA Press Office
[email protected]