Technology

BT accelerates digital transformation amid Europe’s urgent 6G spectrum call

Friday, 9 May 2025 12:08AM UTC

BT Group appoints Peter Leukert as Chief Digital Officer to lead its digital overhaul, while a coalition of European telcos urges swift allocation of the upper 6 GHz band critical for 6G. Meanwhile, Cisco advances quantum networking technologies and Japan enacts new cybersecurity laws, signalling a pivotal moment for the telecom sector’s future.

Navigating the Future: BT's New Leadership and Europe's 6G Aspirations

In the ever-evolving landscape of telecommunications, significant shifts are underway as BT Group welcomes Peter Leukert as its new Chief Digital Officer, effective from September 1. Previously serving as the Group Chief Information Officer at Deutsche Telekom, Leukert brings a wealth of experience in digital transformations, having successfully led initiatives that significantly enhanced customer experience and operational efficiency at his former company. His appointment marks a strategic move for BT as it aims to undergo a comprehensive digital overhaul.

Leukert’s vision aligns with BT's ambition to modernise its operations and establish itself as a leading player in the digital landscape. The company’s focus is not merely on immediate operational improvements but on embedding data-driven and AI-enhanced processes across its services. BT describes its Digital unit as a core element of its transformation strategy, aiming to simplify internal systems while simultaneously enhancing customer interactions. In his own words, Leukert expressed enthusiasm about the potential to “transform and simplify BT's operations,” emphasising that effective digital transformation can catalyse sustainable business growth and significantly improve customer outcomes.

Parallel to BT’s internal restructuring, a coalition of twelve prominent European telecommunications companies, including BT, is pressing the European Commission to take decisive action regarding the upper 6 GHz spectrum band. This spectrum, essential for the forthcoming 6G network services, has become a focal point of concern among the CTOs of these telcos. In an open letter, they urged the European authorities to allocate the complete band (6.425-7.125 GHz) without delay, citing its critical role in sustaining Europe’s competitive edge in the telecom industry.

The concerted efforts of these companies underscore a shared concern about the implications of delaying access to this spectrum. They argue that current mobile data demand is escalating at a staggering rate—projected to increase by up to 25% annually—necessitating an urgent response to avoid compromising network performance. If left unaddressed, these telcos warn that Europe’s digital infrastructure could lag, undermining the continent's economic potential and global standing.

Meanwhile, Cisco has propelled itself to the forefront of quantum computing innovation with the launch of its Quantum Network Entanglement Chip. This new technology is designed to overcome challenges related to quantum networking, particularly in enabling scalable, practical applications of distributed quantum computing. According to Vijoy Pandey, Cisco's Vice President of Emerging Technologies, the aim is to foster an ecosystem that supports practical quantum solutions over the next few years. The chip operates with existing telecom infrastructure and boasts impressive energy efficiency and capabilities, setting the stage for a scalable quantum future that can leverage existing fibreoptic networks.

In parallel to these industry developments, Japan is enacting significant legislation aimed at bolstering its cybersecurity framework. The "Active Cyber-Defence" law will mandate telecommunication and IT companies to report potential cyber threats, drawing some criticism for blending extensive government surveillance with private sector operations. This initiative highlights a growing trend towards increased security measures in response to global cyber threats, raising questions about privacy and government oversight in the digital age.

As the telecommunications landscape navigates these complexities—from BT’s leadership change to the pressing need for more spectrum in Europe, alongside pioneering advancements in quantum technology and stringent cybersecurity measures—stakeholders are urged to consider the broader implications. Each development signals a critical step towards ensuring that companies can not only survive but thrive in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven marketplace. The stakes are high, and the outcomes will shape not only corporate futures but also wider societal and economic contexts in the years to come.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.telecomtv.com/content/digital-platforms-services/what-s-up-with-bt-6g-in-europe-cisco-52968/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.telecomtv.com/content/digital-platforms-services/what-s-up-with-bt-6g-in-europe-cisco-52968/ - BT Group has appointed Peter Leukert, formerly Deutsche Telekom's Group CIO, as its new Chief Digital Officer, effective September 1. Leukert will lead BT's Digital unit, focusing on driving the company's digital transformation. He has a history of successful IT and digital platform transformations at Deutsche Telekom and has held roles at McKinsey & Co, Commerzbank, and the New York Stock Exchange. BT's Digital unit is central to its modernization efforts, aiming to enhance customer experience and integrate data and AI across operations.
https://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/european-operators-open-letter-warns-eu-about-insufficient-spectrum-for-6g/ - The CTOs of 12 leading European telecom companies, including A1 Telekom Austria Group, BT, Deutsche Telekom, and others, have urged the European Commission to allocate the entire upper 6 GHz band (6.425-7.125 GHz) for mobile networks. They emphasize that this spectrum is crucial for launching 6G in Europe and is integral to the continent's future mobile infrastructure. The operators express concern over potential delays in this allocation, which could threaten Europe's competitiveness and digital sovereignty.
https://www.telefonica.com/en/communication-room/blog/european-telecoms-ceos-call-6-ghz-band-allocation-mobile-networks/ - CEOs from eleven leading European telecom companies, including Telefónica, have called on the European Commission and national administrations to allocate the upper 6 GHz band (6.425-7.125 MHz) for mobile networks without undue restrictions. They highlight that this spectrum is essential to meet the growing mobile data demand, projected to increase by up to 25% annually, and is vital for the evolution of 5G and future 6G technologies. The CEOs stress that without this allocation, mobile network performance could decline by the end of the decade.
https://www.gsma.com/newsroom/article/mobile-spectrum-to-define-europes-digital-leadership-after-wrc-23/ - The GSMA emphasizes the importance of mobile spectrum in defining Europe's digital leadership post-WRC-23. It advocates for the identification of the 6 GHz band (6.425-7.125 GHz) for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) to support the expansion of 5G and future 6G networks. The GSMA highlights that urban populations in Europe will require access to this band to ensure cost-efficient mobile network expansion and to meet the EU's connectivity targets by 2030.
https://www.telekom.com/en/company/topic-specials/special-public-and-regulatory-affairs/detail/use-of-the-upper-6-ghz-spectrum-band-1081936 - Deutsche Telekom supports the allocation of the upper 6 GHz spectrum band (6.425-7.125 MHz) to mobile networks, as requested by the CEOs of eleven leading European telecom companies. The company highlights that data usage in mobile networks is growing year-on-year by up to 25%, and the current spectrum allocation will not satisfy future customer demand. Without this allocation, mobile network performance in Germany and other European countries could decline from 2028 onwards.
https://www.wi-fi.org/news-events/newsroom/wi-fi-alliance-commends-european-communications-authorities-on-the-decision-to - The Wi-Fi Alliance commends European communications authorities for their decision to maximize public benefits of the upper 6 GHz band. The Alliance emphasizes that access to this band is essential to support major advances in Wi-Fi technology, including increased data throughput rates, ultra-low latencies, and better mobility. It advocates for allowing Wi-Fi access to the entire 6 GHz band (5.925 to 7.125 GHz) to enhance broadband wireless connectivity without disrupting incumbent users.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The article mentions recent developments such as BT's new leadership and European telecom companies' efforts to secure 6G spectrum, indicating relatively fresh content. However, specific events like the appointment date and the ongoing spectrum lobbying suggest it could be from a few months ago.

Quotes check

Score: 6

Notes: There is a quote from Peter Leukert, but without an original source date, it's difficult to verify if it's the first use. The context suggests it might be recent, but confirmation is needed.

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative originates from TelecomTV, a reputable site in the telecom industry, but not a globally recognized news source like BBC or Financial Times.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims about BT's leadership change, 6G spectrum allocation, and Cisco's quantum computing advancements are plausible and align with current trends in the telecom industry.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative appears mostly accurate with fresh content, though the lack of specific dates for some events and the reliance on a niche industry publication slightly reduce confidence. The claims about 6G and quantum computing are plausible and align with industry trends.

BT Group
6G Spectrum
Telecommunications
Digital Transformation
Cisco Quantum Computing
Cybersecurity