EU digital sovereignty drive stresses telecom networks and data control

Digital sovereignty refers to a community’s ability to decide how critical digital infrastructure, data, cloud services and AI models are managed, aiming to protect privacy, security and economic autonomy. It involves clear rules on data consent, storage locations, interoperable cloud solutions and resilient supply chains for chips and semiconductors, ensuring that citizens and businesses retain control over their digital tools.

At a panel in Milan, Italian telecom leaders highlighted that the nation’s competitive edge depends on robust telecommunications networks, which now underpin cloud, edge computing, AI and future quantum services. Investments in fiber, data centers and satellite partnerships are urged to boost Europe’s average 79.4% fiber coverage and address the 55% adoption gap, reinforcing resilience and continuity of critical digital services.