European Union of its Way to a Uniform Telecommunications Services Market - the 2002 Directive Package

Kamil Ławniczak

Electronic communications, i.e. computer networks, mobile and fixed-line telecommunications, etc., revolutionised everyday life as well as the way economy and politics function. The European Community initiated the process of liberalisation of telecommunications market in the 1990s in order to boost competition and make communication services cheaper. The convergence process, rapid changes in the ICT sector and the European Union's efforts to become "the most competitive economy in the world" (which was the goal of the Lisbon Strategy) created the need for a new, more universal regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services evident. This article attempts to analyse provisions of the 2002 directive package (directives 2002/21/EC, 2002/20/EC and 2002/19/EC) as well as its reform proposed in November 2007 by the European Commission. Implementation of the directives in Poland is given special focus.

KEYWORDS

electronic communications, European Union, European Communities, Framework Directive, Access Directive, Authorisation Directive