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EANGTI’s mission

With the ongoing digitalisation, telecom networks and technologies are becoming the backbone of modern societies. It is key that Europe can continue to reap the benefits of innovation and intellectual property developed in Europe.

The European Association of Next Generation Telecommunications Innovators (EANGTI), is founded by group of European telecom SME’s to highlight the opportunity in creating a strong eco-system and SME-friendly environment that fosters innovation in Europe.

About Us

Context

Europe has a long and proud history of successful technological innovation and building strong companies and eco-systems. The continent also has a number of successful and highly advanced SMEs within the telecom space, which represents a new breed of telecom suppliers, born in a cloud-native era where software is at the centre of the business, and open source and collaboration is part of the DNA.

Yet in last decades the centre of gravity for innovation has moved to the West and the East. Some of the fastest growing companies in the telecom sector have over the past decades come from the US and Asia.

The Challenge

The last decade’s trend of US and Asian telecom companies growing more rapidly than European companies can be changed. Young and innovative SMEs can and should play a key part in fuelling European innovation. Europe needs to strengthen its SME ecosystem through dedicated support – allowing innovation and IP to stay in Europe and contribute to innovation, digital sovereignty and competitiveness. For that to happen, these companies must continue to develop and grow within the European context, rather than being acquired by companies from other parts of the world.

The acquisition of European innovators by foreign companies leads to European know how, technology and IP being siphoned off to other regions. This trend is highly prevalent in the telecoms industry. The innovation power of telecom SMEs needs to be recognized and supported as it will allow Europe to build a more-cost effective and innovative telecom infrastructure and healthy eco-systems. This will foster the development of use cases ranging from high-speed mobile broadband rural coverage to effective IoT applications for smaller enterprises and municipalities.

EANGTI’s Mission and Objectives

Our mission is to allow Europe to continue to reap the benefits of innovation and intellectual property developed within the continent. EANGTI is dedicated to highlighting the opportunity in creating a strong eco-system and SME-friendly environment that fosters innovation.

Our objectives are:

  • Deepening the understanding of SMEs’ role and importance in Europe in driving R&D and innovation and ensure that European SMEs have a voice.

  • Encouraging collaboration between industry players, regulators and other relevant actors, in order to secure an independent European technology eco-system.

  • Promoting the capabilities and opportunities of next generation software-defined networks, and creating dedicated SME-based showcases and deployments of relevant technologies.

Our Work

EANGTI is active in the following advocacy areas:

Co-creation

Joint effort across industry players to develop a new generation of services and deployments for underserved markets.

Public/private collaborations

Joint efforts across private and public players to develop eco-system and use cases.

flag-of-europe

Dedicated government and/or EU funding to SME projects & deployments

  • Pursue funding to build 10+ mobile 4G/5G networks in Europe, which are a 100% built and/or supplied by European SMEs.
  • Examples can include bringing 4G coverage to rural areas or deploying 5G networks on university campuses to support research and development around 5G applications.
  • Supplier diversification – require mobile network operators to spend 10% of annual CapEx and Opex on European SMEs.

Availability of spectrum

  • Rural – enable SMEs to build neutral host networks in areas where mobile network operators do not see any business case
  • Mobile virtual network operators’ (MVNOs) access to IoT – allow MVNOs to obtain access to all 4G/5G networks in Europe
  • Private LTE/5G – regulatory framework in support of local spectrum licenses

European tech innovation

History of innovation

Europe has a long and proud history of successful technological innovation and building strong companies and eco-systems. However, in the last decades, the centre of gravity in technological innovation has moved to the West and the East. Both the US and Asia have successfully built fast growing tech industries with strong innovation clusters and start-up friendly policies and support structures.

While European countries often rank high on innovation indices, they have been less successful in breeding globally leading technology companies, ecosystems and clusters.

In parallel, US and Asian companies have actively sought out attractive SMEs in the tech sector, including in Europe, acquiring leading edge technologies and intellectual property to further strengthen their offerings and portfolios.

It is, however, possible for Europe to become a global leader without following the American or Asian models. There are already several young European SMEs offering cutting edge telecom technology solutions. Not seldom, new entrepreneurs have built leading companies in their respective fields through very strong links to European academia and research centres.

The backbone of modern society

With the ongoing digitalization, telecom networks and technologies are becoming the backbone of modern societies.

This is illustrated by the total number of mobile broadband subscriptions which has reached 6.2 billion and is expected to reach 8 billion by 2025. Moreover, subscriptions associated with smartphones account for more than 70% of all mobile subscriptions. In terms of 5G, a total of 2.6 billion 5G subscriptions are forecasted for 2025.

5G networks are expected to carry nearly half of the world’s mobile data traffic by 2025. For example, 500 million additional smartphone users are expected in India. The total traffic is projected to triple, reaching 22EB per month in 2025.

While there is a lot of talk about 5G, its capabilities and when it will be available, there are many use cases where the cost effective next generations software defined networks (mobile core and RAN) are needed. There is an increasing demand for an integrated, cloud-native 4G/5G core that is underserved by legacy suppliers.

Examples of use cases where this technology can add significant value are:

  • For MNOs – to bring down production cost for voice (to address low ARPU segments)

  • For MVNOs/MNOs – to provide IoT connectivity, for example eSim in cars, to more and more devices that need to connect at very low price points (compared to traditional price of internet and voice connectivity)

  • For governments – bring mobile internet coverage to rural areas and close the coverage gap

  • For enterprises – private 4G and 5G solutions, independent of WiFi and commercial carriers

No single player will be able to make it happen – there needs to be an ecosystem of different actors catering to different needs in the market and need to develop an environment in which both technology and business innovation is supported and encouraged.

A new breed of companies and technologies

Europe already has a number of successful and highly advanced SMEs within the telecom space, working on the next generation mobile network technology. This is a new breed of telecom technology providers, born in a cloud-native era where software is at the centre of the business and open source and collaboration is part of the DNA. While they are small in size and individually address parts of the network, together, these European SMEs are, already today, in a position to supply and operate a full 4G and 5G network from the “brain” in the core network (functions) to the radio access network (RAN) at the edge. More specifically, they can provide core network functions, mobile core, and virtualized radio access network (RAN).

If you bundle the products and capabilities of all of these players, these SME’s can jointly supply all components needed to build a full 4G or 5G network that is fully software based.

A fully software defined (virtual) mobile network will soon be the industry standard in telecommunications, just like digitalization and virtualization have transformed other industries, such as media and music distribution. Software-only networks come with many advantages

  • Cost-effective

    Roughly reducing costs for building and operating a mobile core network by 50%-80% from a TCO (total costs of ownership) perspective, implying a dramatic change in network-costs.

  • More flexible

    Significantly increasing the flexibility and ability to include components from different suppliers and open source applications and the opportunity to use the existing computing infrastructure much more effectively.

While 2G and 3G connectivity still enable the majority of IoT applications, during 2019 the number of Massive IoT connections are estimated to have increased by a factor of 3, reaching close to 100 million at the end of the year. The number of IoT connections of all types is forecast to reach almost 25 billion by 2025. European telecom SMEs can already today offer technologies that radically bring down the cost of deploying and running 4G and 5G networks, making them available to all sectors of society. For example, the connectivity needs of the automotive and transport ecosystem are diverse and complex, requiring a common network solution, rather than several single-segment solutions. The automotive industry is expected to be among the top four industries for 5G-enabled service providers in 2030.

Increased diversity in supply chain

An added benefit of building an even stronger European eco-system of telecom network equipment/solution providers is the possibility for increased diversity in the supply chain for operators. Over time this will increase resilience and independence of the increasingly critical telecom networks in Europe.

Key Facts

Investment in tech

Investment in European tech continued to grow in 2019, whereas the US and Asia saw a decline after record levels of investment in 2018. Yet, the volume in capital invested in the US is still around 3.4 times the level of investment in Europe for 2019.

Capital invested in European tech in 2019 amounted to 31.2B EUR, a number that has increased by 124% the last five years and by 39% since 2018

Foreign investors

Last year showed an unprecedented interest from US investors in Europe. US investors are more active in terms of their activity in the region, as well as in spending an increased amount of time on the ground, building their European network and dealflow.

In 2019, one in five rounds raised in Europe involved the participation of at least one US or Asian investor. Thus, the share of rounds with at least one US or Asian investor participating have increased to 21% 2019, up from just 10% in 2015.

When it comes to US and Asian investors, they have been crucial for raising large-scale funding rounds of more than 91.2B EUR ($100B on exchange rate 0.912) in Europe. Last year, 90% of all rounds of at least 91.2B EUR involved the participation of at least one US or Asian investor.

M&A

Throughout Europe, there is a rising trend of SMEs being acquired by non-European companies.

For example, in Germany, domestic acquirers have traditionally dominated but that could be changing. Since 2013 the activity of foreign investors have picked up noticeably. This new trend is apparent when looking at foreign investors’ share in M&A transactions in the SME sector, which in 2017 reached 49%. Between 2013 and 2017 there was a 19% increase in the number of M&A deals with an acquirer from outside Germany

FAQ

What is the European Association of Next Generation Telecommunications Innovators?

The European Association of Next Generation Telecommunications Innovators (EANGTI) is an industry association made up of SMEs active in the telecommunications industry. Members are telecom SMEs that supply a software-based 4G/5G core network functions or virtualized RAN, which are majority owned by European-based shareholders.

What is the association trying to achieve? What is the mission? Goals?

EANGTI has the mission to foster innovation in the European telecommunications space, specifically for the supply and operation of 4G and 5G networks. The association is dedicated to promote the opportunity in creating a strong eco-system and SME-friendly environment in the European telecommunications sector.

How is the association planning to carry out its mission?

By having a close dialogue with relevant stakeholders, including industry actors and policymakers, EANGTI will carry out advocacy and cooperation to foster innovation. Efforts are focused on achieving 10+ live network deployments through government or EU funding, and a broader ecosystem through advocacy for availability of spectrum and appropriate regulatory frameworks.

Where does EANGTI get its funding from?

The association is funded by membership fees.

Our Members

Become a Member

Eligibility

To be eligible for membership in the European Association of Next Generation Telecommunications Innovators companies must meet the following criteria:

Full members:

  • Supplier of software-based 4G/5G core network function or virtualized RAN

  • SME

  • Majority owned by European-based shareholders

Associated members:

  • Relevant Europe-based industry partners (e.g. MVNOs, suppliers, etc.)

Application

Please contact membership@eangti.org for information on the application process.

Membership FAQ

What is the benefit of being part of the association?

Through EANGTI, SMEs in the telecommunications sectors will have a voice that will champion innovative companies, and work to improve the conditions in which the members operate in.

How do I become a member?

After checking your eligibility, please contact membership@eangti.org for information regarding the application process.

Who can join EANGTI?

SMEs who are suppliers of software-based 4G/5G core network function or virtualized RAN, that are majority owned by European-based shareholders are eligible for full membership.

Relevant Europe-based industry partners (e.g. MVNOs, suppliers, etc.) are eligible for associate membership.

What is the difference between full and associate membership?

SMEs who are suppliers of software-based 4G/5G core network function or virtualized RAN, that are majority owned by European-based shareholders are eligible for full membership.

Relevant Europe-based industry partners to suppliers of software-based 4G/5G core network function or virtualized RAN, that are majority owned by European-based shareholders are eligible for associate membership.

Full members become part of EANGTI’s board. The board decide on the action plan for the period ahead, provide guidelines and review progress made.

Associate members are may use their affiliation in public materials and take part and receive updates on the association’s work, progress and objectives.

How are the questions that EANGTI drive decided?

The association’s activities are defined and carried out entirely independently by a Board composed of representatives designated by the members’ organizations.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding the association, or for media enquiries, please reach out to info@eangti.org.
Eangti’s representatives are Dr. David Bachmann, CEO ng-voice, Co-President of Eangti and Franck Spinelli, CEO Amarisoft, Co-President of Eangti

Address

Square de Meeûs 23, 1000 Brussels, Belgium