2020/0654/E
EC/EFTA
ES Spain
  • V00T - TELECOMS
2021-01-18
2020-10-22

Electronic communication networks and services.

Telecommunications equipment.
Services that require the use of the radioelectric spectrum: security services, emergency services, radio astronomy services.

General Law on Telecommunications.

The preliminary draft transposes into the Spanish legal system Directive (EU) 2018/1972 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code. The draft regulates the general telecommunications system, summarises the prevailing regulations, updates those aspects having undergone significant modifications since the approval of the previous General Law of 2014, and lays the foundations for the deployment of very high capacity networks.

Specifically, the law:

• promotes the deployment of very high capacity networks, such as fibre optics and 5G, which will contribute to the fight against the digital divide, depopulation and climate change;
• streamlines the award and management of the radioelectric public domain, introducing measures that facilitate spectrum sharing by mobile operators, avoiding unnecessary restrictions on the implementation of wireless access points for small areas and establishing a minimum validity period for licences;
• establishes different categories of electronic communications services, accepting the principle of approximation of the obligations applicable to different categories, under the criteria of imposing similar obligations on similar services;
• reinforces the use of the 112 number as an emergency call number at the European level, laying down obligations of accessibility for people with disabilities and introducing the capability of using the number to send out public alerts;
• introduces into the General Law on Telecommunications certain measures contained in Regulation (EU) 2015/2120 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down measures concerning open internet access (TSM Regulation) and in Commission Recommendation (EU) 2019/534 on Cybersecurity of 5G networks, in the BB Cost Directive and in the RED Directive.