The European Union, represented by the European Commission, has become the first strategic partner of the Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT), strengthening international cooperation on next-generation telecom infrastructure.

GCOT is an informal multilateral group focused on ensuring that telecommunications networks are built on principles of security, resilience and global collaboration. Current members include Australia, Canada, Finland, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

As a strategic partner, the EU will take part in discussions at multiple levels, contribute to specific workstreams led by member countries, and support joint initiatives and publications on a voluntary basis.

Telecommunications are a key pillar of EU competitiveness, security and innovation policy, especially as next-generation networks increasingly integrate technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, sensing capabilities and satellite systems. Brussels sees international cooperation as essential for advancing priorities such as supply chain diversification, network resilience, sustainability and the development of future technologies like 6G.

The European Commission participated in its first GCOT meeting on 4 May 2026 in Ottawa, Canada, marking the start of its involvement in the coalition.