Open up digital ecosystems through cross-industry collaboration 

Collaboration across the entire ecosystem is what delivers innovative, safe and secure products for consumers and businesses. Openness can be challenging to define, and different technologies require novel approaches to ensure accessibility, choice, security and safety. This means that all parts of the digital ecosystem, from infrastructure to software, should collaborate and exchange ideas to build an open digital ecosystem that benefits everyone - from operators and regulators to businesses and consumers. In general, this means that companies should work together in cross-industry fora to develop open standards and adhere to them, especially when it comes to technologies which are fundamental to the lives of consumers and operating models of businesses. 

Promote seamless connectivity and interoperable systems to fuel innovation

Open and interoperable ecosystems play an essential part in fuelling innovation by underpinning  users’ ability to enable all parts of their digital ecosystems to work together to improve their experience, regardless of which device, brand, operating system, default messaging app or mobile operator they are using. Cross-industry interoperability should be delivered to provide the necessary infrastructure and incentives for future investments that will drive a new wave of innovation in Europe. This will also address existing consumer harms such as the lack of messaging interoperability between different operating system ecosystems.

Empower consumers to choose devices and services with ease

Users should be able to freely select, use, and seamlessly move across a range of connected devices and services, from smartphones to wearables, regardless of brands or operating systems. They want to customise their experience by choosing their own preferred defaults, be they apps, payment systems or online services. Users should be able to move from one ecosystems to the other with ease, taking with them all important data and content without cost using agreed open industry standards.

Nurture an environment of non-discriminatory access

People expect high quality digital experiences and functionality, as well as safety and privacy when they use digital services. This can only be delivered through enabling developers and manufacturers to have non-discriminatory general access to device hardware, software features, app stores and operating system functionalities, while taking account of security and interoperability needs. If developers and manufacturers can safely leverage important device capabilities, such as hardware for payment systems, browser engines, data and chipsets APIs, this will drive competition through the digital value chain. And if developers can securely distribute and monetise their services through a route of their choice, this enables choice, competition and innovation for consumers.