On 12 May, Ofcom launched a consultation on proposed updates to its General statement of policy under section 105Y of the Communications Act 2003 (the “Statement of Policy”) in respect of how it will assess compliance by public telecommunications operators with their security obligations under the UK telecommunications
Continue Reading UK telecommunications security regulation: Proposed updates to Ofcom incident reporting and enforcement approach and new Security Code of Practice
The KRITIS Umbrella Act (Dachgesetz zur Stärkung der physischen Resilienz kritischer Anlagen – KRITISDachG) has been in effect since March 17, 2026. For operators of critical infrastructure in Germany, this means: new obligations, tight deadlines, and hefty fines require swift action. For the first time, the law establishes
Continue Reading KRITIS Umbrella Act Now in Effect: What Critical Infrastructure Operators Need to Know and Do
NIS2, the EU’s second Network and Information Systems Directive, is not going anywhere. While the swathe of organisations newly in scope of the EU’s hallmark cybersecurity directive may have hoped that the EU’s recent announcements on regulatory simplification (including the Digital Omnibus) might have reduced their compliance burden, in
Continue Reading NIS2’s extended scope takes a deep dive: Unpacking the EU Commission’s proposed expansion to Submarine Data Transmission Infrastructure
The European Commission has just unveiled its proposal for the Digital Networks Act (DNA). The DNA marks a fundamental shift from regulating traditional “electronic communications” to a broader, cloud-integrated ecosystem of “digital networks”.
In a nutshell: The DNA replaces the fragmented framework of the 2018 Electronic Communications Code (EECC)
Continue Reading From Telecoms to “Digital Networks”: Navigating the EU’s New Digital Networks Act (DNA)
Earlier this week the European Policy Centre (with its partner the Vodafone Institute) published a new discussion paper looking at the strategic issues around European submarine cables and making some recommendations. Since it’s an area of work close to my heart I have reviewed and set out below – in
Continue Reading The Proposed European Strategy for Submarine Infrastructure
A recent decision from a Finnish district court has cast light on the legal and operational challenges surrounding damage to submarine infrastructure, particularly in contested or sensitive maritime zones. The case concerned the Eagle S, a Cook Islands-flagged oil tanker, whose crew faced criminal charges following an incident in
Continue Reading The difficulty of bringing criminal cases for submarine cable damage – the Eagle S case
On 25 June 2025, the European Commission has proposed the draft of the EU Space Act.
This proposed new law is intended to provide a harmonised regulatory framework at European level from 2030 to ensure safety, resilience, and environmental responsibility across the EU, while helping space tech companies grow and scale across borders.
Continue Reading EU Space Act
Reproduced from an article by Mike Conradi and Christian Keogh in SubTel Forum Issue #141 – Finance & Legal (March 2025)
Due diligence is a crucial element of any M&A deal. The term refers to one of the activities undertaken by a purchaser prior to closing a deal, in order
Continue Reading Legal due diligence on submarine cables
In two recent decisions, the German Higher Regional Courts (Oberlandesgerichte – OLG) of Cologne and Munich have clarified the – strict – German requirements for cancellation buttons on websites of tech companies providing digital services to consumers, such as telecommunications services or pay-TV/streaming services.
Continue Reading German Higher Courts Clarify Strict Requirements for Online Contract Cancellations
On 6 March 2025, Italy’s Chamber of Deputies approved a draft law on Space Economics, submitted by the Prime Minister and the Ministro delle Imprese e del Made in Italy, which has now been sent to the Senate for final approval.
The approval of the Space Economics draft law
Continue Reading Italy’s Chamber of Deputies approves draft law on Space Economics: Legal insight
