Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Hottges calls for a European version of DOGE to cut bureaucracy, streamline regulations, and boost telecom industry growth at MWC.
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| Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Hottges speaks at MWC in Barcelona, calling for a European equivalent of the U.S. DOGE to cut regulatory barriers in telecom. Image: CHicHue |
Barcelona, Spain — March 5, 2025:
Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Hottges has urged Europe to create a version of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce bureaucracy and drive telecom sector growth. Speaking at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona on Monday, Hottges criticized excessive regulation, which he claims is stifling innovation and competitiveness in Europe’s technology industry, reads a Heise post.
“What Europe needs is a DOGE,” he said. “We must cut down on bureaucracy because tens of thousands of people are sitting there administrating our industries instead of enabling them.”
DOGE, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk, is a controversial U.S. initiative aimed at cutting federal spending and reforming government processes. While praised for efficiency, it has also drawn criticism for mass layoffs and access to sensitive data.
Hottges highlighted that Deutsche Telekom alone faces oversight from nearly 270 regulatory bodies across Europe, calling for industry consolidation and a shift in pricing models. He argued that telecom operators should have the ability to charge tech giants like Amazon and Netflix for using their infrastructure.
His concerns were shared by other European telecom leaders, including Telefonica’s Marc Murtra, Vodafone’s Margherita Della Valle, and Orange’s Christel Heydemann. Murtra warned that overregulation and market fragmentation have put Europe behind global competitors, while Della Valle acknowledged that Europe is struggling to keep pace in 5G development.
“In what has now become a global race, it’s fair to say Europe is not winning,” Della Valle said, noting that even some middle-income countries are advancing faster.
Despite these challenges, Heydemann pointed to Europe’s strong talent pool and growing opportunities in AI and edge computing as potential avenues for the telecom industry to regain its competitive edge.