A group of European telecom companies, including Vodafone, Iliad, and 1&1, have jointly criticized the European Commission’s proposal to relax regulations on fixed broadband networks, arguing that such a move could reverse progress on market competition and fiber optic rollout.
In an open letter published Thursday, the companies expressed concerns that loosening regulations for dominant operators—typically former monopolists such as Deutsche Telekom in Germany—would lead to a “re-monopolisation” of national markets and undermine the EU’s digital goals.
Pushback against deregulation
The European Commission is reviewing rules that currently require dominant network owners to allow competitors access to their infrastructure under regulated terms. The proposal under consideration would ease those obligations, particularly in markets deemed to have improved competition.
However, the signatories of the letter argue that such deregulation would be a “step backwards” for Europe. They warn it would:
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Contradict the EU’s own pro-competition policies,
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Stifle the deployment of fiber optic networks,
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Reinforce the dominance of historical operators in national markets.
“This would undo years of progress and hurt consumer choice,” the letter states.
Fiber optic rollout remains contentious
The development and expansion of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks remains a divisive issue across Europe. Smaller telecoms argue that the incumbent operators—who control much of the legacy infrastructure—already enjoy significant advantages, and further deregulation would only deepen their dominance.
National developments reflect broader tension
Earlier in July, Germany’s Bundestag passed new legislation aimed at accelerating the rollout of fiber and mobile networks. However, critics say that without firm regulatory oversight, smaller providers risk being squeezed out of lucrative markets, undermining investment diversity.
With the EU pushing for widespread gigabit connectivity by 2030, the tension between market liberalization and infrastructure control is emerging as a key regulatory battleground.