A retrospective review of the keynote speeches at MWC shows an awkward push and pull from European operators. They are demanding data usage payments from Big Tech in the form of ‘fair share,’ but also desperately need hyperscalers to stay relevant in an increasingly virtualized world. The speeches from the CEOs of Europe’s largest telcos – DT, Telefonica, Orange, and Vodafone – had different nuances but there was plenty of common ground. The first prominent issue was the call for regulatory change and relaxation across Europe, with the hope that this would lead to more M&A in the region. But another message was a need for partnerships between telecoms, tech companies, and policymakers, to create an ecosystem at scale. These…