The opening speaker described the forum as a timely opportunity to strengthen collaboration at a moment when connectivity, cybersecurity and digital resilience have become strategic priorities. He stressed that no single institution or country can address emerging challenges alone, particularly as Europe implements new frameworks covering digital services, cybersecurity, media regulation and AI. Other opening speakers echoed this theme, highlighting the tension between encouraging innovation and regulating emerging technologies, particularly AI, while safeguarding democracy and public trust.
Universal connectivity and next-generation digital networks
The first panel session explored how regulators and industry can work together to support investment, competition and innovation as Europe transitions towards next-generation digital networks. It was noted that connectivity is no longer simply a telecommunications issue but a strategic enabler of economic growth, resilience and digital competitiveness.
A significant focus of the discussion was the proposed Digital Networks Act, which aims to simplify and harmonise Europe’s regulatory framework. Speakers welcomed efforts to create a more coherent single market and provide greater certainty for investors, while cautioning that regulation must remain flexible enough to address differing national market conditions.
The transition from legacy copper networks to full-fibre infrastructure was identified as one of Europe’s most important connectivity challenges. Participants highlighted the importance of predictable investment conditions, coordinated migration strategies and continued safeguards to ensure competition remains effective in fibre markets. Access to passive infrastructure, including ducts and poles, was repeatedly cited as a key driver of network investment and competition.
While speakers recognised that Europe has made significant progress in connectivity, greater effort is required to unlock the full potential of standalone 5G services as applications continue to emerge in sectors such as healthcare, education, public safety and industrial innovation. Spectrum policy, network sharing and regulatory predictability are critical factors in extending coverage and supporting future investment.
Satellite connectivity and NTNs
In this session a panel explored the growing role of satellite connectivity and non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) in national communications strategies, highlighting how space-based infrastructure is moving from a niche technology to a central component of digital resilience, universal connectivity and strategic autonomy. Speakers consistently emphasised that satellite networks should be viewed not as a replacement for terrestrial infrastructure, but as a complementary layer that extends coverage, enhances resilience and supports connectivity in areas where fibre and mobile networks are difficult or uneconomic to deploy.
The discussion focused on the practical applications of satellite services, including emergency communications, public safety, rural connectivity, transport corridors, industrial IoT and disaster recovery. Participants noted that geopolitical uncertainty, increasing dependence on digital services and the rise of AI-driven applications have elevated connectivity from a commercial service to a critical national infrastructure requirement.
Several speakers highlighted the importance of collaboration between mobile operators, satellite providers and regulators. Future connectivity ecosystems will depend on seamless integration between fibre, mobile and space-based technologies rather than competition between them. However, there is a need for more agile regulation, regulatory sandboxes, greater international coordination and reforms to spectrum-sharing rules to reflect advances in low earth orbit satellite systems.
Building resilient digital ecosystems
In this session the panel examined how to strengthen the resilience of digital infrastructure in an increasingly complex and interconnected environment. While cybersecurity remained a central focus, panellists emphasised that resilience extends far beyond cyber threats, encompassing network continuity, energy security, supply chain integrity, disaster preparedness and cross-sector coordination.
A significant part of the discussion focused on the implementation of the EU’s NIS2 (Network and Information Security 2) Directive. It was stressed that NIS2 represents an important step towards establishing common cybersecurity standards across critical sectors. However, speakers also highlighted the challenges of identifying which organisations fall within its scope, the coordination of responsibilities between sectoral authorities and ensuring cybersecurity requirements remain proportionate and harmonised across member states.
Contributors from regulatory and industry backgrounds argued that network resilience must be treated as a strategic capability rather than simply as a compliance obligation. Recent experiences involving natural disasters, infrastructure outages and geopolitical tensions have demonstrated the need for redundancy, backup systems, crisis preparedness and stronger cooperation between public and private stakeholders.
Speakers drew attention to the growing importance of artificial intelligence, post-quantum security, 5G and future network technologies, while warning that AI is simultaneously enhancing the capabilities of defenders and threat actors. Universities are increasingly important partners, not only for educating future engineers but also for providing research, testing facilities and neutral environments where new technologies can be evaluated before deployment.
Artificial intelligence and network infrastructure
The closing session of the first day of the forum examined the growing interdependence between artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and public policy. AI is no longer a standalone technology but is becoming deeply embedded within communications networks, cloud platforms, data centres and critical digital infrastructure. The discussion highlighted a dual dynamic: AI is creating unprecedented demand for connectivity, computing power and data flows, while simultaneously offering new opportunities to optimise network performance, efficiency and service delivery.
Panellists emphasised that Europe faces a critical moment in determining how AI development can support competitiveness while remaining aligned with principles of trust, security and transparency. It was argued that future AI strategies cannot be separated from connectivity strategies, noting that advanced AI services increasingly depend on low-latency, high-capacity and highly resilient communications networks. High levels of investment, it was argued, are needed both for AI infrastructure and telecommunications networks.
Speakers argued that secure infrastructure, robust standards and clear governance frameworks are essential to fostering confidence in AI systems. Standardisation is a critical enabler of interoperability, cybersecurity and regulatory compliance, helping to translate policy objectives into practical implementation.
Keynote: the technology challenge for regulators
The first keynote presentation of day 2 reflected on the growing challenge facing regulators and policymakers as technological innovation accelerates faster than governments’ ability to understand and respond to it. The speaker argued that the greatest constraint on effective regulation is not legislation but access to skilled experts capable of understanding increasingly complex technologies such as artificial intelligence. Competition for talent between government, regulators and the private sector was identified as a major concern, alongside the need to invest in younger professionals and build future expertise. The presentation highlighted AI’s transformative impact on cybersecurity, including its ability to identify vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed, while raising difficult questions about trust, automation and risk management.
Keynote: growing a unicorn
The second keynote presentation charted the evolution of Romania’s first unicorn, UiPath, from a small start-up focused on screen-scraping technology into a global leader in robotic process automation and AI-powered enterprise automation. The speaker described how the company’s growth mirrored broader developments in digital technology, moving from rule-based software robots to increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled systems capable of understanding content, processing documents and supporting decision-making. The presenter emphasised the importance of education, ecosystem development and collaboration with customers, partners and academia.
Digital services
Panellists began by discussing recent revisions to European merger guidelines, noting a growing willingness by authorities to consider not only potential harms from consolidation but also the investment, innovation and consumer benefits that mergers may generate.
The debate examined how competition authorities should assess investment commitments, particularly in sectors such as telecommunications where network upgrades and infrastructure deployment require significant capital. Speakers recognised the increasing importance of investment, resilience and industrial policy considerations in regulatory decision-making.
The conversation also addressed concerns about fragmentation within Europe. Speakers argued that greater integration of European markets, particularly in telecommunications, financial services and energy, could help create the scale needed to compete globally.
Digital transformation in the media
The session began with a presentation highlighting growing concerns about the impact of social media on children and young people, drawing on research that found some teenagers are exposed to as many as 400 videos per day. Participants in the study described patterns of compulsive use, unintended time spent online, disrupted sleep and persistent pressure to remain connected to peers. Many reported feeling unable to reduce their social media use despite recognising its negative effects, citing the fear of missing out and social expectations within friendship groups.
Following the presentation, a panel examined the practical challenges of implementing the Digital Services Act (DSA), focusing on the balance between online safety, consumer protection and innovation. Speakers highlighted that while the DSA has created a comprehensive framework for platform accountability, effective enforcement remains a complex task involving multiple regulators, jurisdictions and stakeholders
Discussions also explored differing approaches to platform governance. Pragmatic partnerships between regulators and major platforms to address illegal content have had considerable success, particularly in smaller markets with limited formal enforcement powers.
A distinction was drawn between editorially curated media services and platforms hosting user-generated content. Speakers argued that regulatory approaches should reflect differing levels of risk, particularly when considering age verification, harmful content and child protection measures. At the same time, participants acknowledged growing concerns about the influence of algorithms and online design features, and the declining role of editorially curated news in younger audiences’ media consumption.
This report was drafted using ChatGPT.
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