“The emergence of 3C networks—integrating advanced connectivity, sovereign cloud, and AI—marks a significant evolution in Europe’s digital landscape. This approach aligns directly with recent EU policy shifts that prioritize digital sovereignty, cross-border interoperability, and the creation of pan-European champions capable of competing globally. What’s particularly relevant for industry stakeholders is the massive push towards harmonized regulations and the urgency to accelerate investments in critical infrastructure, from fiber and 5G/6G to distributed edge nodes.
Current fragmentation across national markets and reliance on non-European tech still present notable challenges, but the focus on open-source stacks, hybrid cloud/edge architectures, and reinforced cyber requirements (under NIS2/CER) is setting a clear framework for resilient, future-proof networks. For IT leaders, this is the ideal moment to anticipate regulatory shifts, engage in EU consultations, and adapt architectures to ride the convergence of connectivity, AI, and next-gen cloud. Those who do will be best positioned as Europe seeks to lead rather than follow in these transformative domains.”
The Evolution of Connectivity Technologies
As we move beyond 5G toward 6G, the fundamental role of connectivity technologies is rapidly expanding across all sectors of the economy. Colin Willcock highlights how connectivity has transcended its original use cases:
“The point with connectivity and 5G and 6G is that they’re becoming more and more the bedrock for digital industries. So it’s no longer just teenagers with smartphones and playing games. They’re now underpinning this whole transition to digitalisation, be that smart media, intelligent factories, satellite communications integrated into the whole digital network.”
This evolution underscores the strategic importance of these technologies, which have become fundamental to virtually every sector of the economy and society. The implications extend far beyond consumer applications to encompass industrial transformation, smart infrastructure, and integrated communication networks.