Proposed changes to UK law affecting telecoms operators
In today’s Queen’s speech (which sets out the UK Government’s legislative agenda), a number of proposals were made which will impact the UK telecoms sector:
-
-
EU | Telecoms Regulation | UK
A new universal service broadband obligation for the UK
In November 2015, the David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, announced the UK government’s intention to introduce a broadband universal service obligation to the UK. Subsequent announcements have clarified that his ‘ambition’ is that the minimum speed is set at 10 Mbps for consumers and small businesses.
-
Ofcom to review and update General Conditions of Entitlement affecting all communications providers operating in the UK
If you read past the Openreach headlines in Ofcom’s Digital Communications Market review, you can find four paragraphs in chapter eight announcing a review of the UK’s General Conditions of Entitlement, which will affect anyone operating a telecoms network or providing telecoms services in the UK Since individual licences were (largely) abolished in the UK in 2003, providers of…
-
Reforming Openreach’s governance: Ofcom’s proposals
This article was published in February 2016 and reflects the regulatory position at that time. For current guidance on this topic, contact Bratby Law or see our latest insights. In my last post, I summarised Ofcom’s initial conclusions from its review of the UK digital communications market. One of Ofcom’s conclusions was that the functional…
-
EU | Telecoms Regulation | UK
Ofcom’s UK digital communications review: BT can keep Openreach (for now…)
On 25 February 2016 Ofcom published its initial conclusions from its strategic review of the UK’s digital communications market. Whilst much of the headline press coverage has focused on BT being able to retain Openreach, provided its governance is reformed, Ofcom’s review goes much wider than the regulation of Openreach and sets the strategic direction for UK…
-
UK withdraws proposed updates to the Electronic Communications Code
On 22 January 2015, the UK Government withdrew its proposed changes to the Electronic Communications Code. As the changes were unexpected, more time for consultation is not entirely unwelcome. However, as the changes in large part were positive, I hope that this is only a delay and the proposals will be brought forward in due…
-
UK proposes surprise changes to the Electronic Communications Code
In a surprise move, on 13 January the UK government announced plans to update the elderly (and, even to the House of Lords, rather incomprehensible) Electronic Communications Code which deals with the rights of telecoms operators to access public and private land. Whilst the proposed changes in large part adopt the recommendations of the Law Commission’s report…
-
EU | Telecoms Regulation | UK
ECJ finds Data Retention Directive invalid. What next?
On 8 April 2014 the European Court of Justice ruled that the Data Retention Directive 2006/24/EC interferes in a particularly serious manner with the fundamental rights to respect for private life and to the protection of personal data. The Directive is declared invalid. Today’s post by Sylvie Rousseau and Matthias Vierstraete explains what the court decided and…
-
EU | Telecoms Regulation | UK
Advocate General Pedro Cruz Villalón issues damning opinion on the Data Retention Directive
Last week (12/12/2013), a serious blow was dealt to one of the fundamental building blocks establishing the legal framework for retention of data for law enforcement across Europe. Advocate General Pedro Cruz Villalón (AG) at the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) delivered an opinion stating that the Data Retention Directive (DRD) is, as a whole,…
-
Insight to China, India and Japan’s communications markets from Ofcom report
Ofcom this week published its most recent report comparing the UK’s communications (telecoms, TV, radio, web and post) market with 16 other countries, including China, India and Japan. Whilst Ofcom’s press releases have focused on the comparatively good performance of the UK (which oddly enough seems to reflect well on the UK regulator – Ofcom),…
-
EU | Telecoms Regulation | Transactions | UK
Why bring your own device (BYOD) is not just an IT issue
I was fortunate this week to be both a speaker and a panellist at Questex Asia’s ‘BYOD and Mobile Security conference held in Singapore. It turned out I was the only lawyer in a room of 200 plus IT people, which was an interesting experience. Having made my presentation (Olswang_Asia_BYOD_presentation) my conversations with delegates brought home…
-
EU | Telecoms Regulation | UK
Finally! Bidding starts in UK 4G auction
After many twists and turns (see here for background), the UK auction of spectrum in the 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands started yesterday. Ofcom announced that the bidders are: Everything Everywhere Limited HKT (UK) Company Limited (a subsidiary of PCCW Limited) Hutchison 3G UK Limited MLL Telecom Ltd Niche Spectrum Ventures Limited (a subsidiary of BT…