Future Connectivity
Court halts Starlink’s deployment in France
France's highest administrative court has stripped Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet constellation, of its frequency authorisations, ruling they were granted without public consultation despite its potential "significant market impact". EURACTIV France reports.
Digital connectivity can fix the EU’s faltering Eastern Partnership
Relations between the EU and its eastern neighbours a going backwards. But a combination of renegotiated trade agreements and digital connectivity could reverse the tide, writes Dan Dalton.
Health crisis pushes EU into era of digital education
The European Commission has laid out plans to boost the education of citizens in digital skills across the bloc, as part of a drive that it hopes will aid Europe's long-term economic stability while the continent rebounds from the after-effects of the coronavirus crisis.
Finnish industries launch ‘game-changing’ bid to go green, digital
A consortium of twelve Finnish corporations calling themselves the "game-changers" have announced a new billion-euro offensive to build new digital infrastructure, saying the digital transition will be key to achieve green objectives after the COVID-19 crisis.
‘Geopolitical’ Europe aims to extend its digital sovereignty from China
The European Commission intends to act as a strong geopolitical player at next week's EU-China video meeting. But to do so, Europe must extend its 'digital sovereignty', also with regards to China. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Gabriel outlines key areas for EU digital education action plan
Developing digital competencies across the EU as well as promoting gender equality in the bloc's digital economy are two key areas that the European Commission will seek to foster as part of the forthcoming revamped Digital Education Action Plan, the EU's Innovation and Research Commissioner Mariya Gabriel has said.
Commission in bid to ensure ‘70% of EU adults’ have digital skills
The European Commission has laid out ambitious new goals for upskilling and reskilling its citizens by 2025, including the objective of ensuring that 70% of the EU adult population has basic digital skills.
The new ERA must do more for gender equality
As we slowly emerge from the coronavirus outbreak in Europe, one thing is clear – it has brought to the front various aspects of gender equality issues in Research and Innovation (R&I), writes Marcela Linkova.
Lack of strategy leaves Bulgaria last in terms of digital performance
For a second consecutive year, Bulgaria is ranked last among all 27 EU members in the European Commission’s Digital Economy and Society Index, despite having a powerful IT sector, concentrated mostly in the capital Sofia.
MEP: Europe’s digital education strategy is key to future recovery
As part of the European Commission's recently revised long-term budget proposal, an increased outlay could go towards the digital up-skilling and re-skilling of citizens. EURACTIV caught up with MEP Victor Negrescu to talk about why this issue has risen to the top of the EU agenda.
Connecting Europe’s forgotten regions
As part of a raft of commitments to be announced by the European Council today (9 June), EU member states will renew their commitment to bridging the gap across Europe's connectivity divides, as certain territories on the continent continue to be isolated from more developed parts of the bloc.
Finnish telecom operators share new 5G spectrum, as Nokia boosts broadband business
Finnish telecom operators Telia, Elisa and Telenor-owned DNA all won frequencies at the country’s auction of new high-speed 5G mobile networks on Monday, the Ministry of Transport and Communications said.
Changes in education as a result of COVID-19 crisis are here to stay, experts say
As lockdown measures are relaxed and schools reopen across Europe, EURACTIV has interviewed experts on whether the pandemic could have a long-lasting impact on education systems in Europe, and they said changes are here to stay.
UK in 5G talks with suppliers from Japan, South Korea
British officials have discussed supplies of 5G networking equipment with companies in South Korea and Japan as part of a bid to develop alternatives to China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, a person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
Combat 5G COVID-19 fake news, urges Europe
European Union (EU) nations banking on 5G to boost economic growth are eager to tackle conspiracy theories linking the wireless technology to the spread of the novel coronavirus that have seen masts torched in several places.
Commission sets sights on digital-savvy citizens
The European Commission has reiterated the importance of up-skilling adults and young people across the bloc, in order to make European workers more agile in the post-coronavirus digital economy. Speaking as part of an event hosted by Digital Europe on...
Helping disengaged young people in times of pandemic
A European-wide project was supporting young disengaged when the COVID-19 outbreak started. EURACTIV has spoken to the organizers about how they adapted to challenging circumstances.
In Germany’s new 5G security criteria, SPD sees a “blunt sword”
The German Interior Ministry wants to check whether manufacturers of 5G components are trustworthy. For SPD digital politician Falko Mohrs, this does not go far enough. He demands a political security check, fed with secret service information. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German-German dispute over fibre optic funding to be decided in Brussels
The European Commission is examining German plans to support the fibre optic industry. The Christian Democrat (CDU/CSU) parliamentary group asked for early approval, while the fixed network industry association BREKO is opposed to the measures. EURACTIV Germany has seen both letters.
Vestager urges EU member states not to backtrack on 5G
The European Commission's Vice-President for Digital, Margrethe Vestager, has urged EU telecoms ministers to "limit as much as possible" any delays to their 5G spectrum assignments, amid the current challenges to the industry brought on by the coronavirus crisis.
Croatian Presidency pushes for new Commission 5G and 6G action plan
The European Commission is under pressure to propose a revised Action Plan for 5G and 6G mobile telecommunications as a means to bolster the bloc's connectivity, according to a draft text from the Croatian Presidency of the EU seen by EURACTIV.
Erasmus students in limbo about losing grants from COVID lockdown
Some 65% of the students who are in Erasmus exchange programmes but subject to confinement measures do not yet know if they will keep or return the grant that was disbursed for their studies, while 7% said they will not get any, according to a report by the Erasmus Students Network (ESN).
Private sector jumps in to fill youth skills gap
Youth unemployment remains a lingering issue in Europe. While the public sector has a central role to play in supporting young people in the transition from education to work, private companies can also contribute to closing the skills gap.