Electronic communications: Framework Directive [Archived]

Produced in partnership with David Stewart of Towerhouse LLP

Practice notes

Electronic communications: Framework Directive [Archived]

Produced in partnership with David Stewart of Towerhouse LLP

Practice notes

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained.

This Practice Note relates to Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services as amended by Directive 2009/140/EC (the framework directive). It is part of a series of Practice Notes on core elements of the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications.

In the EU, the provision of electronic communications networks and services in each Member State is governed by a common regulatory framework, which originally comprised five directives (the Framework).

The objective of the Framework was to establish a harmonised framework for the regulation of electronic communications networks and services throughout the EU. In December 2018 Directive (EU) 2018/1972 establishing the European electronic communications code (Recast) (the European Electronic Communications Code) was published in the Official Journal of the EU and came into force three days after publication. The European Electronic Communications Code consolidates four of the directives (including the Framework Directive) which make up the Framework,

David Stewart

Partner, Towerhouse LLP

David Stewart joined Towerhouse LLP as a partner in July 2013. David is a competition and regulatory lawyer with a career-long specialisation in regulated sectors, with particular experience in communications. David was previously a Competition Policy Director at Ofcom, the UK's converged communications regulator, leading Ofcom's programme of fixed and mobile telecoms market reviews, including Ofcom's advisory role in mergers in the sector. He also served as Ofcom's Director of Investigations, leading the UK's largest competition law enforcement programme at an economic regulator, and responsible for enforcing consumer law and regulatory rules and resolving access and interconnection disputes. He held a governance role in relation to Ofcom's work on competition in broadcasting markets (including pay TV), spectrum clearance and awards, consumer policy, internet policy and enforcement. He was also involved in Ofcom's engagement in European and international regulatory issues, regularly representing Ofcom in dealings with other national regulatory agencies and with the European Commission. Prior to joining Ofcom, David was Director of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Energis (a top 3 UK telecoms operator) and Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs for the international division of Cable & Wireless (then a multi-national FTSE100 company), advising the incumbent national telcos in 31 countries. He was previously a lawyer in private practice with Gilbert & Tobin and Minter Ellison. David qualified in science (molecular genetics/zoology) and law.

Jurisdiction(s):

United Kingdom

Key definition:

Framework Directive definition

What does Framework Directive mean?

Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services, as amended by Directive 2009/140/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.

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