The communications and media industries have a huge impact on each of us, as individuals, consumers and citizens. The UK needs this sector to be innovative, energetic and competitive, ready to respond to todays - and tomorrow's - communications environment.

The Government will help to make this happen by opening up competition, removing unnecessary burdens on business and streamlining the regulatory environment.

We will not compromise on quality. Viewers, listeners and customers continue to be have a choice of high-quality services, and their interests as consumers and citizens will be safeguarded.

We will put in place a framework that can better and more rapidly respond to developing and converging technologies, evolving markets and changing public attitudes and expectations.

With OFCOM as the single regulator for the communications industry, there will be greater certainty and clarity - decisions will be made after an assessment of their impact across all aspects of the industry.

Burdens on business will be kept to a minimum. We will crack down on market abuses, but the aim is to remove regulation, wherever possible.

The UK promotes competition, with the benefits that this brings in terms of investment, new management skills, dynamism and creativity.

NEW - The World Summit on the Information Society ( WSIS ) - NEW

What is WSIS?

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was an initiative of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It will take place in two phases, with the first to be held from 10 to 12 December 2003, in Geneva, Switzerland and the second from 16 to 18 November 2005 in Tunis, Tunisia.

The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183

 <http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs/background/resolutions/56_183_unga_2002.pdf> welcomed the Summit and described its aim as being "the development of a common vision and understanding of the information society and the adoption of a declaration and plan of action for implementation by Governments, international institutions and all sectors of civil society”.  It further encouraged contributions from all relevant UN bodies and other intergovernmental organisations, including the active participation of international and regional institutions, civil society including non-governmental organisations, and the private sector, in the intergovernmental preparatory process of the Summit and the Summit itself. 

UK Key messages for the Summit

The UK is actively engaging in preparations for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), and is hoping that it will be a successful event.  

Please Click here to read the UK Greetings for the First WSIS Summit December 2003 from Stephen Timms, Minister for Energy, e-Commerce and Postal Services.

Government Policy and the Future of eCommunications

Under our page Government Policy and the Future of eCommunications we set the goal to see the widest possible access to a choice of different and high-quality communications services. We can all gain something from these new services, we want every section of our society to have the benefits of these services, and use them to the full.

Markets in Transition

In Markets in Transition we examine the effects of digitisation in all sectors and if the explosive growth of the Internet has had the greatest impact on the market. The opportunities to compete in these new and challenging markets have been greatly influenced by the UK's policy of creating a stable regulatory environment that supports and underpins competition in both the network and service sectors.

eCommunications Regulation

eCommunications Regulation shows the Government's intention is to ensure that, as far as possible, the law relating to e-business is neutral in its application, providing the same legal environment on-line as it does off-line. Included in this page is The Electronic Communications Act (2000), (the purpose of the Act is to help build confidence in electronic communications). Other regulatory issues are being given their own pages on this website.

The other regulatory subjects include; The Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002, The Regulations implement the main requirements of the E-Commerce Directive (2000/31/EC) into UK law - aimed at encouraging greater use of e-commerce. The Regulations may apply to businesses advertising / selling goods and services online, transmitting or storing electronic content or those providing access to a communication network. The Telecommunications (Lawful Business Practice) (Interception of Communications) Regulations 2000,Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, a general principle that communications should only be intercepted with the prior consent of both parties was established.  The Lawful Business Practice Regulations offer an exemption to this general principal for businesses wishing to intercept communications on their own systems, so long as the reason for the interception is one of those reasons set out in the Regulations. The Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications (2002/58/EC), the Directive updates the existing EU Telecoms Data Protection Directive (97/66/EC).  Enabling location-based services, new requirements for publicly available directories, the extension of controls on unsolicited marketing by email and SMS, and the use of cookies on websites.  A public consultation is now running on how to implement the Directive in the UK, closing in June 2003. As an associated regulatory subject The Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 1999 the Regulations implement the main requirements of the Telecoms Data Protection Directive (97/66/EC) into UK law.

eCommunications Policy and Consultation

eCommunications Policy and Consultation includes information on Domain Names & ICANN and ENUM (electronic number mapping).

Support for the Knowledge Driven Economy

Support for the Knowledge Driven Economy, highlights the present intense phase of development in UK's information technology and electronic communications sector.

eCommunications Support, Information and guidance

eCommunications Support, Information and guidance about regulation, policy, and support for development in this critically important sector is readily available from the DTI including areas of activity and key-contacts.

UK Research and Development

UK Research and Development, information on UK Innovation in the fields of IT, electronics, communications, and creative content which is at least on a par with the best in the world.

Online Trading Statistics

Online Trading Statistics, online access to the Government report 'Business in the Information Age' and 'UK Online for Business Benchmarking Study'.