internet lab.
time capsules 🕰️
looking ahead
each episode of this visionary series delivers expert-driven predictions and insights on emerging trends, technologies, and shifts in the telecom landscape, projected over the next decade or two. Discover strategic insights essential for shaping future policies!
Xchanges 🗣️
the 360° perspective
the Xchanges are roundtable webinars that aim to provide input into the ongoing Internet policy discussions in Brussels. These roundtables are live-streamed, and a selection of key quotes is shared afterwards.
hot items 🔥
candid observations
in this video podcast series, our guests reflect on the latest hot developments and news in the telecom arena. Saving you time unravelling what’s shaping policy and regulation.
capsule in the spotlight
![Pinar Serdengecti TTC [Square]](https://informationlabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Pinar-Serdengecti-TTC-Square-308x308.png "Pinar Serdengecti TTC [Square]")
latest Xchange
![IL Xchange 13 June 2024 - Square Black [110624]](https://informationlabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IL-Xchange-13-June-2024-Square-Black-110624-308x308.png "IL Xchange 13 June 2024 - Square Black [110624]")
latest hot item
latest podcast
Pinar Serdengecti
the future of telecoms
Amanda Third
1:1 with Klaus Landefeld
get the outlook
Our next guest in this series brings the competitive network operators’ perspective: Pinar Serdengecti, Regulation and Competition Affairs Director at the European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ecta), has 20 years of experience in the telecommunications sector working for various operators.
explore
internet lab hosted “The Future of Telecoms: A Vision Beyond Targets”, an online roundtable, on Thursday 13 June 2024. The European Commission Connectivity White Paper consultation ran until 30 June 2024. What does the future of telecoms look like, and should the EU pursue a vision rather than focus on targets?
Check it out
🔍 In this ‘Hot Item’ episode, Amanda Third discusses the proposed ban on social media for under-16s and why a well-intentioned, “world-first” measure could backfire. Framed as a response to youth mental health concerns, the legislation may weaken online safety, deepen inequalities, and encourage circumvention. The discussion highlights why smarter, evidence-based regulation—focused on harmful platform features and children’s rights—matters far more than blanket bans.
learn more
in this May 2023 episode, Klaus Landefeld (DE-CIX Group) shared his views on what’s wrong with the European Commission’s 2023 exploratory consultation on the future of telecoms.
telecom time capsules 🕰️
Pinar Serdengecti
ecta
Petra Arts
Cloudflare
Brian Williamson
Communications Chambers
Carl Gahnberg
Internet Society
William Webb
Author of ‘The End of Telecoms History’
Fiona Alexander
Center for European Policy Analysis
Dean Bubley
Disruptive Analysis
David de Bakker
Allied For Startups
Kostas Masselos
EETT & BEREC
background: consultation on the EC White Paper on Europe’s digital infrastructure needs
The “Telecom Time Capsules” is a visionary series of bite-sized videos designed to inform policymakers about the evolving needs of a thriving connectivity environment for users and businesses. Each episode delivers expert-driven predictions and insights on emerging trends, technologies, and shifts in the telecom landscape, projected over the next decade or two.
It builds on our Xchange on the future of telecoms, which was motivated by the ongoing fair share / network fees debate. On 21 February 2024, the European Commission issued its White Paper ‘How to master Europe’s digital infrastructure needs?’, which was open for comments until 30 June 2024. While the paper highlights that “there are very few known cases of intervention” in the interconnection market, the Commission remains concerned that “it cannot be excluded that the number of cases in the future will increase.” For the Commission, this assumption seems enough to justify legislative intervention.
See what people are saying about the EC’s White Paper below and don’t forget to check out our repository on the network fees debate.
resources 🗃️
- Internet Society | Submission to the Consultation
- Benoît Felten (Partner at Plum Consulting) | The Risks of the EC’s Proposed Regulatory Expansion
- Plum Consulting | Consequences of EC Proposals to Extend Regulatory Scope to the Entire Digital Economy
- Finnish Government | Reaction to the EC’s White Paper (in Finnish)
- Innovation Club (Germany, Estonia, Lithuania & Latvia) | Make it Simple – Our Blueprint for a More Innovative Europe (see Section 2)
- Joint statement by a diverse group of organisations, bringing together start-ups, digital rights, consumers, network operators, and Big Tech | Preliminary Concerns Regarding European Commission’s White Paper on Europe’s Digital Infrastructure Needs
- BEUC & ecta | Joint Call on EU Ministers to Reject Push for Deregulation, Reduction of Competition and Consumer Welfare in EU Telecoms
- Konstantinos Komaitis | Telcos vs the Internet: A Defining Policy Issue
- Communications Chambers | LinkedIn Contribution by Brian Williamson
- CCIA | White Paper On Europe’s Digital Infrastructure Needs: Europe’s Open Internet Still At Risk
- Information Technology Industry (ITI) Council | Network Fees Would Limit Choice, Hamper Connectivity for Europe
- Allied for Startups | Crisis Averted: Has the Commission Given up on Network Fees?
- Plum Consulting | Why Does the Commission Never Talk About Germany?
- Dutch Government | Reaction to the EC’s White Paper (in Dutch)
- Alessio Butti (Italian Undersecretary for Digital Transformation) Newspaper Interview (in Italian)
internet lab. Xchanges 🗣️
The Future of Telecoms:
A Vision Beyond Targets
Déjà Vu Digital: Revisiting
Europe’s Network Fee
Debate... Again
Network Fees: What’s Net
Neutrality Got to Do With It?
hot items 🔥
Amanda Third
Benoit Felten
Thomas Lohninger
Véronique Ney & Christoph Mertens
Prof KS Park
Bruno Veluet
MEP Tiemo Wölken
season 2 | what’s wrong with the EC consultation on the future of telecoms?
season 1 | fair share / network fees background
the internet lab
The importance of the internet has never been more evident than today.
The internet lab. aims to trigger exchanges and innovative thoughts around the internet, as EU and national policy discussions around it evolve.
By talking to experts and stakeholders, the internet lab intends to feed into discussions on Internet sustainability from a business and economic point of view, such as the ones expected in Brussels around the Connectivity Infrastructure Act, and other digital policy files.
'fair share' project goals
The ‘fair share’ project aims to create a constructive debate around internet sustainability, and the impact on consumer choice.
The core objective is to inform policy makers in the EU and beyond, as well as key stakeholders.
season 2 | what’s wrong with the EC consultation on the future of telecoms?
'fair share' project support & host
The ‘fair share’ project, including a series of video podcasts, is an initiative launched by SME Connect and N-square.
SME Connect is the network of SMEs and their supporters. It is non-political but advised by a non-profit board of politicians made up of all constructive political groups.
N-square is a public affairs and government relations firm specialised in the online environment and is registered in the EU Transparency Register.
The video podcast host is Caroline De Cock, expert in Internet law and copyright.
season 1 | fair share / network fees background
