The European Union’s effort to reform telecommunications governance through the proposed Digital Networks Act is facing new scrutiny after an internal European Commission assessment suggested the framework may increase administrative demands on national regulators rather than reduce them. The proposal was initially presented as part of broader efforts to modernise telecom rules and simplify regulatory procedures across member states.
According to the assessment, the new framework could introduce additional reporting requirements and oversight mechanisms that national telecom authorities would need to implement. This development has raised concerns among regulatory bodies and the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC), which plays a central role in coordinating telecom regulation across the EU. Regulators may need to adapt their operational processes to comply with new obligations, potentially affecting how quickly they can respond to national market developments.
The Digital Networks Act is intended to improve coordination and governance of telecommunications networks across the EU, particularly in the context of expanding digital infrastructure and supporting faster network deployment. However, early analysis suggests that increased coordination at the EU level may require more formal reporting and monitoring procedures, which could add complexity to existing regulatory structures rather than streamline them.
The debate around the proposal reflects broader tensions between efforts to harmonise telecom governance at the EU level and the operational realities faced by national regulators. Governments and policymakers have emphasised the importance of accelerating network deployment and ensuring regulatory predictability. At the same time, regulators are examining whether the proposed framework provides sufficient flexibility to address national priorities without introducing additional administrative constraints.
As discussions continue, the Digital Networks Act remains under review, with policymakers and regulatory bodies assessing its potential impact on telecom governance, regulatory efficiency, and the pace of network development across the European Union.
