EU resetting copper switch-off to ‘mandatory but conditional’ 2035, pressuring slow-mo incumbents
Joe Purnell2026-01-16T18:42:00
In depth: leaked draft of EC Digital Networks Act reveals copper shutdown ambitions delayed by five years. Incumbent, copper-overweight operators like Deutsche Telekom look set to face heat if new enforcement capabilities introduced. Other highlights include spectrum trading, easing up on regional consolidation, and streamlining oversight…
This article includes:
- Themes: Competition and consolidation; Connectivity services; Copper switch-off; Digital infrastructure; Digital Networks Act (DNA); Fibre coverage; Fibre rollout; Gigabit broadband; Infrastructure investment; Merger and acquisition (M&A); Regulation; Spectrum rights; Telecommunications.
- People: Andreas Pfisterer; Dominique Leroy; Emilio Gayo; Henna Virkkunen.
- Geographic: Czechia; Europe; European Union (EU); France; Germany; Greece; Italy; Portugal; Spain; Sweden.
- Organisations: Body of European Regulators (BEREC); Deutsche Glasfaser; Deutsche Telekom; European Commission; FTTH Council Europe; Office for Digital Networks (ODN); Orange; Radio Spectrum Policy Body; Table.Briefings; Telekom Deutschland (TDE); Telefónica.