European Telcos to Benefit from €200bn AI Investment Push
European telecommunications firms are poised to capture substantial opportunities from the continent's €200bn AI investment programme, which forms part of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen Europe's position in technology markets.
The investment initiative, which also targets quantum computing, cloud infrastructure, semiconductors and data storage, comes as Germany prepares to host GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything from 21-23 May at Messe Berlin. The event will bring together network infrastructure providers, cloud services companies and technology innovators at a time when Germany's ICT sector is projected to reach €232.8bn in 2025 according to Statista data.
Franziska Giffey, Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, said: "Partnering with one of the largest tech and startup global events and hosting the debut of GITEX EUROPE in Berlin strengthens our commitment to solidifying Germany's position as a global magnet for investment and frontier-pushing technologies, spearheading Europe's edge in the next digital decade."
Telecommunications providers will play a central role in Europe's AI development through their network infrastructure, edge computing capabilities and data centres. The European investment package includes provisions for enhancing connectivity, which telecommunications firms will deliver.
The Berlin exhibition is organised by KAOUN International with backing from the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Berlin Partner for Business and Technology and the European Innovation Council.
Network Infrastructure Providers NTT and Cloudflare Join Technology Leaders at GITEX EUROPE
The exhibition will convene over 1,400 technology enterprises, including telecommunications and network infrastructure specialists, from more than 100 countries. Network providers NTT and Cloudflare will participate alongside technology firms including AWS, IBM, Cisco, Dell, Fortinet, Lenovo, Nutanix, Nvidia, Opswat and SAP.
Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International, said: "Amid the AI whirlwinds, there is a coordinated consensus and renewed urgency and unity across Europe to assert its digital sovereignty and leadership as a global innovation force. The region is paving its way as a centre-stage where AI, quantum and deep tech supremacy will be debated, developed and scaled."
The conference programme includes more than 500 speakers addressing the telecommunications foundation required for AI development. Headliners include Geoffrey Hinton, Physics Nobel Laureate and neural network pioneer; Kai Wegner, Mayor of Berlin; Jelena Begović, Serbian Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation; and Mark Surman, President of Mozilla.
Discussions will examine Europe's network infrastructure requirements for AI deployment, including the need for reduced latency, expanded bandwidth and enhanced security. The telecommunications sector will provide the backbone for applications including agentic AI, where automated systems require continuous connectivity.
The exhibition includes demonstrations of quantum communication networks, which European telecommunications firms are exploring to create tamper-proof data transmission systems. Europe has committed €7bn to quantum computing research, representing the second largest investment globally after China.
Alessandro Curioni, IBM Fellow, Vice President Europe and Africa and Director IBM Research Zurich, said: "IBM's investments in AI and quantum computing directly reflect our commitment to Europe, and underscore the key role of collaboration with industry, academia and policymakers for a pan-European ecosystem. These state-of-the-art technologies and facilities will foster innovation, creating new opportunities for talent attraction and ensuring that Europe will always be at the forefront of global technological advancements."
European Telecom Startups Lead Innovation in Network Security and Infrastructure Management
The telecommunications sector will feature prominently within North Star Europe, which will host more than 750 startup ventures and 20 unicorn companies including mobility platform Bolt and delivery service Glovo, both of which rely on telecommunications infrastructure for their operations.
The network security segment will receive particular attention through GITEX Cyber Valley, with participation from Fortinet, CrowdStrike, Kaspersky, Knowbe4 and Proofpoint. For telecommunications executives, the cybersecurity sessions will address network protection strategies and supply chain security.
Speakers include Brigadier General Volker Pötzsch, Chief of Division Cyber/IT & AI at Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence; Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government; Miguel De Bruycker, Managing Director General at the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium; and Ugo Vignolo Lutati, Group CISO for Prada Group.
The programme includes technical sessions on 5G and 6G networks, which will provide the foundation for applications including connected vehicles, smart cities and industrial automation. Network slicing capabilities will enable telecommunications providers to allocate dedicated bandwidth for critical applications.
With small and medium enterprises constituting 99% of European businesses, GITEX SMEDEX will connect telecommunications service providers with potential customers and development partners. The initiative has support from EISMEA and ICC Digital Standards Initiative, featuring speakers such as Milena Stoycheva, Chairperson of Board of Innovation at Bulgaria's Ministry of Innovation and Growth, and Oliver Grün, President of European Digital SME Alliance and BITMi.
For telecommunications firms exploring sustainability initiatives, GITEX Green Impact will connect network infrastructure providers with innovators in energy efficiency, renewable power and carbon reduction. Speakers include Gavin Towler, Chief Scientist for Sustainability Technologies & CTO at Honeywell; Julie Kitcher, Chief Sustainability Officer at Airbus; Lisa Reehten, Managing Director of Bosch Climate Solutions; and Mounir Benaija, CTO for EV & Charging Infrastructure at TotalEnergies.
GITEX EUROPE forms part of the GITEX global network of technology and startup events, with additional exhibitions taking place in Morocco, Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand and the UAE that will address telecommunications infrastructure requirements across diverse markets.
"The telecommunications sector provides the foundation for Europe's AI ambitions," said Trixie LohMirmand. "Network infrastructure, edge computing capabilities and secure connectivity will determine the continent's success in developing and deploying AI technologies at scale."
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