How to approach 5G policies Preface by Petr Očko Deputy Minister for Digitalization and Innovation Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic “ You do not grow if you are comfortable.” Calvin Coolidge, US President between 1923-1929 Digital technologies are changing our lives, but also the world around us. We can no longer live without them. Let’s just think about all the digital services in communications, energy, industry and transportation, which we already taken for granted. Let’s think about all the new services and opportunities in these fields, but also about a new range of applications around Smart Cities and other areas that we cannot even imagine yet. The covid 19 crisis has made the importance of digital infrastructure and digital services yet even more visible, with a particular focus on safety and health, but also on minimizing disruption. Remote learning and particularly remote working, along with other digital tools, have not only helped us to survive the crisis, but they are also set to drive economic recovery in the business sector. New technologies never come entirely without risks. There are valid questions, for example about cybersecurity, health or personal data privacy in relation to the rapidly expanding digital technologies. To tackle these questions and risks head on we first need to research and understand them. Subsequently, we must provide fair and appropriate explanations to the public, giving assurances about how peoples’ health, liberties and democratic rights will be protected amid sometimes fast technology-driven changes. While risks require robust responses, they should not overshadow the unparalleled benefits of the new technologies. It is our duty to always search for the best ways to support progress and innovation, particularly in areas where this directly improves peoples’ life. On the back of these developments and the constantly growing importance of technology for all citizens, we have decided to conduct a deep analysis about the future of digital infrastructures and services. 5G, the new fifth generation of wireless networks, naturally becomes the focal point. We think that public debate about 5G has unfortunately often been quite narrow, not taking into account the wider context of what the new networks may bring to the citizens, how this may shape the telecommunication markets, what type of digital services are likely to emerge, how they will impact the real world to the benefit of all citizens as consumers and parts of various communities and economic entities, what the risks are, and how do we address them. Preface 5