The EU and Brazil today signed an agreement to develop 5G, the next
generation of communication networks. The Commission also started work on an
action plan to deploy the technology in the EU by 2020.
In the future, everybody and
everything will use 5G. By 2020, there will be 26 billion connected devices and
70 percent of people will own a smartphone. 5G will be the backbone of the EU Digital
Single Market, industries of the future, modern public services and
innovative applications such as connected cars, smart homes or mobile health
services. To face this global challenge, the EU joins forces with Brazil to
strengthen cooperation in this strategic area and to make sure that 5G does not
develop in silos at the international level. The EU and Brazil, which are close
trading partners, have been cooperating on information and communication
technologies since 2008.
European Commissioner for the
Digital Economy and Society Günther H. Oettinger and
Brazilian Minister of Communications André Figueiredo today
signed a joint declaration at the
Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. This agreement follows similar key cooperation initiatives
with South
Korea, Japan and China.
Vice-President Ansip, responsible for the Digital Single Market said: "I
congratulate colleagues for this important new step in pushing for 5G at global
level. This is about essential technology to ensure connectivity.
But it is also about building trust and confidence in online services and
creating the right conditions for the technology to be deployed across borders.
Spectrum coordination is essential to make 5G happen."(See also his keynote speech given at the
MWC yesterday)
Günther H. Oettinger, in charge of the Digital Economy and
Society, said: "After landmark agreements with China, Japan and
South Korea, today's cooperation initiative with Brazil is a new key step
towards 5G. Neither Europe, nor Brazil can afford to lag behind in the digital era.
With today's agreement we have notably committed to cooperating on the take-up
of 5G in so-called vertical industries such as transport or energy.
International agreements are complementary to our efforts to deploy the
technology in the EU and the work we are starting today to prepare a 5G action
plan for the EU". (See also his keynote speech given this
morning).
The EU and Brazil have committed to developing a global definition of 5G
and to identifying the services (for example connected cars, the Internet of
Things or very high-definition video streaming) which should be the first
delivered by 5G networks. The two partners will also work to define common
standards in order to have a stronger position on the global stage. They will
cooperate in identifying the most promising radio frequencies to meet the
additional spectrum requirements for 5G, especially in the framework of the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU). In addition, they will promote the
deployment of 5G in fields like smart cities, agro-food, education, health,
transport or energy as well as possibilities for joint research projects in
this area.
Cooperation agreements are also being discussed with India and the United
States.
Towards an action
plan to deploy 5G in the EU
5G will be a game changer not
only for telecom companies but also for a number of key industries. This is why
it is essential to connect these actors and help build the future market of 5G
products and services. Today in Barcelona, Commissioner Oettinger called on
sectors like logistics, transport, energy, health and digital manufacturing to
work together with the Commission on a 5G action plan. It is important to think
together on the measures, timetable and investment incentives needed to rollout
essential 5G infrastructure in the EU. The aim is to build on EU investments
already planned in 5G research and innovation - €700 million by 2020 - so that
European companies are ready to start offering 5G products and services in 2020
(blog post by Commissioner Oettinger).
The Commission has recently
made an important step to pave the way for 5G in the EU. Earlier this month,
the Commission presented a proposal to coordinate the use of the 700 MHz band
for mobile services (press release). Mobile operators
using the 700 MHz band will be able to offer higher-speed and higher-quality
broadband (i.e. without service interruption) to consumers and cover wider
areas, including rural and remote regions. It will enable Europe to move ahead
and provide mobile broadband speeds beyond 100 Mb/s and catch up with leading
regions in 4G mobile broadband take-up (like South Korea or the USA). As soon
as specific 5G standards and associated technology and equipment are available
by 2020, mobile operators will be in a good position to roll out 5G services.
Further steps to coordinate spectrum in the EU will be part of the forthcoming
review of EU
telecoms rules foreseen for autumn 2016.
Background
The Commission has been
cooperating with Brazil on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
since 2008. An EU-Brazil joint call inthe ICT work programme 2016-2017 under the EU's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme will
set up joint projects on 5G and also facilitate policy coordination in related
areas between the EU and Brazil.
In December 2013, the
Commission launched a Public-Private
Partnership on 5G (press release - factsheet). The EU is
investing €700 million by 2020 in this partnership under Horizon 2020. EU industry is
set to match this investment by up to 5 times, to more than €3 billion euros.
For more
information
Audiovisual material on the signing ceremony (to be available in the afternoon)
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