On 5 June 2019 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) clarified that a voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) service is an “electronic communications service” (ECS) for the purpose of the Framework Directive (2002/21/EC) and is therefore subject to the applicable regulatory framework. In light of rapid technological change and continued convergence across the TMT sector, the case … Read more
Despite the rapid growth of international e-commerce, there are currently no multilateral rules regulating digital trade. On 3 May 2019, the EU made public its Communication to the World Trade Organisation ("WTO"), suggesting negotiating proposals for a series of WTO disciplines and commitments relating to e-commerce and telecommunications services ("Proposal"). Read more
On 26 March 2019, the European Parliament voted in favour of the new EU Copyright Directive (the “Directive”) marking the end of lengthy negotiations and delays. The aim of the Directive is to enhance the position of rights’ holders in relation to the use of their material on the internet but, in particular, Articles 11 … Read more
At the European level, on 24 January 2019 the European Commission announced the adoption of an amendment to Decision 2008/411/EC that will harmonise the radio spectrum in the 3.4-3.8 GHz. As the 3.6 GHz band has been identified as the primary band for 5G in the EU, the amendment has updated the technical conditions of … Read more
On 8 February 2019 Ofcom issued a clarification update to its proposed consultation to award 200 MHz of spectrum – with 80 MHz in the 700 MHz band and 120 MHz in the 3.6-3.8 GHz band. The regulator anticipates that this spectrum will be used to meet the increasing demand for mobile broadband services and … Read more
2018 was a landmark year for digital TMT and sourcing. Against the backdrop of the UK’s impending departure from the EU, there were a wealth of highlights as regulation moved further towards greater harmonisation at the European level; the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR“) came into effect on 25 May 2018 and implemented … Read more
In May 2015, as part of its Digital Single Market Strategy, the European Commission published proposals to reform the EU telecommunications regulatory framework. Following a series of consultations in 2015, the Commission published further proposals to reform the EU legislation in September 2016, with the aim of improving internet connectivity across the EU. The proposals … Read more
Transformation in the global telecoms ecosystem is gathering momentum. It is driven by evolving technologies, growing customer appetite for hyperconnectivity and a new breed of competitor. In their quest for a place within this fast moving landscape, traditional telecoms companies will need to reinvent themselves and become more relevant to the digital age customer. Collaboration … Read more
