Interconnection Agreements, Peering and Network Access
Interconnection agreements, peering and access arrangements are at the heart of the UK’s electronic communications framework. Operators must interconnect networks, exchange traffic, support number portability and provide a range of wholesale access services in accordance with the General Conditions of Entitlement and, where applicable, specific SMP obligations imposed by Ofcom.
Alongside this regulated environment, operators frequently negotiate commercial, non-regulated interconnection agreements and peering covering traffic exchange, IP interconnect, transit, hosted numbering, messaging, roaming enablement and access to specialist or value-added services.
Bratby Law advises new entrants, established operators and digital infrastructure providers on the commercial and regulatory aspects of interconnection, peering and access arrangements. We help clients navigate the regulatory background, understand SMP reference offers, and negotiate balanced, commercially workable agreements.
For broader information on SMP regime obligations and wholesale access requirements, see the Telecoms Regulation, Interconnection, and Significant Market Power (SMP) pages.
Our experience
We have advised UK and international operators on interconnection agreements and network access arrangements for more than thirty years, including:
- Fixed and mobile termination and transit
- IP interconnect and SIP trunking arrangements
- Peering, settlement-free interconnect and paid-peering models
- Hosted numbering, routing and messaging services
- Mobile signalling, roaming enablement and inter-operator messaging frameworks
- Access to SMP-regulated services and reference interconnection offers
- Non-regulated commercial agreements, including bespoke multi-service interconnect
- Disputes concerning refusal to interconnect, charges, quality and non-discrimination
This combination of regulatory insight and commercial drafting expertise allows us to support clients from market entry through long-term network growth.
Key issues for clients
- • Understanding the regulatory perimeter: what is regulated, what is commercial
- • Negotiating interconnection terms in the shadow of the General Conditions
- • Assessing SMP reference offers and determining what can be negotiated
- • Pricing structures: termination, transit, porting, messaging and value-added services
- • Managing number portability, routing and database access
- • Ensuring compliance with switching and migration requirements
- • Preventing disputes through clear SLAs, escalation and governance
How we help
Drafting and negotiating commercial Interconnection, Peering & Access Agreements
We draft and negotiate commercial interconnection, IP interconnect, peering and wholesale-access agreements. Our work covers termination, transit, routing, messaging, hosted numbering, SIP interconnect and inter-operator operational frameworks. Agreements are structured for clarity, interoperability and compliance with the UK regulatory regime.
Understanding SMP Interconnection and Access Reference Offers & Regulatory Context
We help new entrants and alternative providers navigate Ofcom’s regulatory framework, including SMP obligations, reference interconnection offers, price controls and non-discrimination duties. We explain which provisions are mandated and where commercial negotiation is possible, ensuring informed decisions and compliant deployment.
Interconnection and access documents
We advise on all documents commonly used in interconnection, peering and access projects, including:
- Network-to-network interconnection agreements (NNI)
- IP interconnect and SIP trunking terms
- Peering agreements (settlement-free and paid)
- Termination and transit service schedules
- Hosted numbering and routing agreements
- SMS/MMS interworking and messaging access
- Routing, numbering and porting
- Inter-operator operational and billing
- SLA, KPI and service-credit regimes
- Security, routing integrity and fraud-prevention frameworks
We provide guidance on all regulatory aspects of interconnection and access, including:
• General Conditions of Entitlement (GCs), especially GC A1–A3 and B1–B4
• SMP obligations: access, price controls, transparency and non-discrimination
• Requirements for reference interconnect and access offers
• Mobile and fixed termination rate regulation
• Number portability and switching obligations
• CLI authentication, spoofing prevention and fraud controls
• Dispute resolution processes and Ofcom adjudication
• Compliance with the UK Telecoms Security regime
Security, resilience and interoperability
We help clients ensure interconnection services meet modern security and interoperability expectations:
• Packet-based interconnect security standards
• Controls for signalling, messaging and routing integrity
• Prevention of traffic pumping, fraud and abusive routing
• Network security obligations under the Telecoms Security Act
• Resilience measures, redundancy and failover design
• Incident reporting, monitoring and inter-operator coordination
How we work
Clients work with Bratby Law in three ways: direct matter-specific advice, specialist co-counsel support, and longer-term fractional general counsel engagements. Each model is structured to deliver senior, technically informed guidance aligned to commercial, operational and regulatory priorities.
Independent directory rankings
Our specialist expertise is recognised in major independent legal directories:
- Chambers & Partners: Rob Bratby is ranked in the UK Guide 2026 in the “Telecommunications” category: Chambers
- The Legal 500: Rob Bratby is listed as a “Leading Partner – Telecoms” in London (TMT – IT & Telecoms): The Legal 500
- Lexology: Rob Bratby is featured on Lexology’s expert profiles (Global Elite Thought Leader): Lexology
Related pages
- Telecoms Regulation lawyers
- Significant Market Power (SMP) Regulation lawyers
- Technology and telecoms transactions lawyers
- Network sharing and co-location agreements lawyers
- Digital infrastructure projects lawyers
- Fractional General Counsel
- Specialist Co-counsel
Need advice on interconnection, peering or access agreements?
Frequently asked questions
What types of interconnection agreements are used in the UK?
Operators commonly use network-to-network interconnection (NNI) agreements, IP interconnect and SIP trunking terms, peering agreements (settlement-free and paid), transit and termination schedules, hosted numbering agreements and messaging or routing interoperability arrangements.
How does regulation affect interconnection?
Interconnection operates against the background of the General Conditions of Entitlement and, for SMP operators, specific access, non-discrimination and transparency obligations. Some termination rates are regulated. Access must be provided on reasonable request where technically and commercially feasible.
How does SMP regulation affect interconnection agreements?
SMP operators must provide reference offers, observe non-discrimination, publish charges and comply with price controls. We help clients understand which elements are negotiable.
Do operators need to interconnect under UK regulation?
Yes. The General Conditions require the negotiation of interconnection agreements on reasonable request, subject to technical feasibility and lawful limitations.
How can Bratby Law help new entrants?
We interpret SMP reference offers, explain regulatory constraints, negotiate commercial improvements, draft bespoke interconnection agreements and network access arrangements and provide guidance through implementation.
Interconnection Agreements, Peering and Network Access