Barcelona, March 4, 2025 – Marc Murtra, President and CEO of Telefónica, emphasized during his speech at the opening session of the MWC Barcelona 2025 that Europe must allow the consolidation of the telecommunications sector, facilitating operators to gain size and strengthen their technological capacity.
A Call for Sector Consolidation
Murtra underscored that the expansion of large telecommunications companies is a key decision for Europe’s future, which would enable the reinforcement of its strategic autonomy, improve productivity, and benefit society.
“It is time for us to be allowed to consolidate and grow to create technological capacity,” he asserted. However, he warned that this transformation relies not only on the operators but also on the European Commission, member states, and regulators, who must adapt their regulations and objectives to enable this evolution.
If no changes are made, Murtra warned that Europe will continue to lose relevance on the global stage and will increasingly find itself limited in its ability to shape its own future.
Telecommunications: Key to European Technological Progress
Murtra recalled the fundamental role that the telecommunications sector has historically played in European technological development and highlighted the opportunities provided by ultra-broadband networks and cloud-based architectures.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that only increased scale and capacity will allow Europe to achieve significant improvements in the industry.
“The fragmentation of the sector in Europe, excessive regulation, and low investment returns have hindered the continent’s technological advancement,” he concluded.
The Model of the U.S., Middle East, and Asia: A Competitive Advantage
Murtra compared the European situation with that of other regions like the United States, the Middle East, and Asia, where the regulatory environment has allowed for the creation and growth of companies with sufficient capacity to innovate and develop new technologies.
In his view, the global landscape is dominated by tech giants operating in almost monopolistic markets, with a much deeper knowledge and influence than 20 years ago.
“We are in a new era where tech titans are driving change. All these companies are in the U.S. and China. Europe must react,” he stated.
Conclusion: An Industry Seeking Greater Competitiveness
With these statements, Marc Murtra reinforces the position of Telefónica and other major European operators, who have been calling for regulatory reform to promote sector consolidation and strengthen Europe’s position in technological innovation.
The MWC Barcelona 2025 has become the platform where executives from European telecommunications have urgently expressed the need to change the sector’s course to avoid losing competitiveness against American and Asian giants.