Electronic communications regulation in Europe : an overview of past and future problems

For many years, electronic communications has been one of the most important areas of policy intervention for the EU. Liberalization and privatization of the telecommunications industry were very important topics of policy debate in the two decades from 1990 to 2010. In these years, the EU developed a sophisticated regulatory framework that aspired to the principle of favoring the entrance of new players in the sector, and characterized by a strong pro-competition flavor. However, more recently the necessity of mobilizing important investments for the creation of new next-generation networks, capable of delivering all the benefits of the digital revolution to European citizens, has cast doubts on the validity of the established framework. This article discusses the solutions adopted during the liberalization process, and summarizes some of the key future challenges to the existing regulatory framework.