Agreement reached on new European rules for electronic communications

Agreement reached on new European rules for electronic communications

Nearly two years after the European Commission proposed new rules to update current EU telecoms rules that had been in force since 2009, the European Parliament and Council have finally reached a political agreement on the new European Electronic Communications Code.

The European Commision stated that the new Code will see 5G network deployment enhanced through increased license lengths for spectrum and ensuring that 5G radio spectrum will be available by the end of 2020. The rules are also intended to facilitate co-investment in “very high capacity networks”, although the revised rules have been criticized by some (see ETNO), welcomed by others (see FTTH Council Europe).

Perhaps the most controversial, and publicized, aspect to the new Code is the introduction s of price caps for intra-EU calls and text messages.

The political agreement reached in the early hours of June 6th will now need to be formally adopted by the European Council, meeting June 8th,  before transposition into national law will begin – for which 24 months have generally been allowed.