The Portuguese government approved its strategy and calendar for 5G rollout on 7 February 2020 (Council of Ministers Resolution 7-A/2020). This strategy includes requesting the Portuguese telecom regulator ANACOM to approve the rules on attribution of individual rights to use frequencies, and aggressive dates for effective coverage. For example, all
Continue Reading Portugal’s 5G spectrum auction
This article is from February 2020, click to read the updated version from July 2020
In July 2019, the UK’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) concluded its Telecoms Supply Chain Review, aiming to create an evidence-based policy framework for the telecoms supply chain. As part of the
Continue Reading Huawei and use of high-risk vendors in UK telecoms networks
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) clarified the scope of the EU telecommunications regulation for Over-the-top (OTT) services in two recent decisions. The court decided whether SkypeOut and Gmail are electronic communications services under the European Framework Directive.
Continue Reading ECJ clarifies scope of telecoms regulation for OTT services
[This is an updated version of my earlier blog piece from July to take account of revisions agreed through the legislative process since then. On 4th December the European Council concluded the legislative process for the new Code and the final text will be published in the EU Official Journal
Continue Reading The New European Electronic Communications Code (updated)
[This is an updated version of my earlier blog piece from July to take account of revisions agreed through the legislative process since then.]
The new European Communications Code (the “Code” – which I have blogged about here) will introduce a mechanism allowing investments in fibre networks made by
Continue Reading Co-Investment Models for Broadband Infrastructure – an explanation and short critique (updated)
This blog piece sets out an overview of the regulation of broadband networks in the UK, both now and in the future. As can be seen from the (very recent) dates on the various document referred-to, this is an area which is changing rapidly at the moment, and is a
Continue Reading Regulation of Fibre Broadband in the UK
**NOTE – THERE IS AN UPDATED VERSION OF THIS NOTE HERE **
The new European Communications Code (the “Code” – which we have blogged about here) will introduce a mechanism allowing investments in fibre networks made by operators with significant market power (SMP), in some circumstances, to be excluded
Continue Reading Co-Investment Models for Broadband Infrastructure – an explanation and short critique
**NOTE THERE IS AN UPDATED VERSION OF THIS POST HERE**
It is now almost two years since the European Commission proposed a new “European Electronic Communications Code” (the “Code”) which would amend and consolidate the current regime (dating from 2002). [i]
On 29 June 2018 a new, amended, draft was published. This is expected to go to a final vote in the Autumn of this year.
The Code will, when finalised, repeal the existing 2002 Directives and replace them with a single, consolidated text, for implementation in Member States within two years. Having spent some time reading through the (c.450) pages the main changes or issues appear to be as follows:
Continue Reading The new European Electronic Communications Code
Article by Catherine Gysels, DLA Piper Brussels
According to Belgian criminal law, providers of telecommunication services are obliged to cooperate if an investigating judge orders a wiretap measure. In November 2017, Skype was found guilty of failing to give essential information and provide a wiretap on Skype calls as
Continue Reading Lawful intercept on VoIP services – Skype in Belgium
Just a quick note to draw attention to a decision by BIPT, the regulator in Belgium here
Lycamobile has been fined €30,000 for violation of the “roam like at home” requirements of the roaming regulation (contained in the 2012 regulation as amended in 2015). It appears that they were offering
Continue Reading Roaming and MVNOs – too clever by half
