Co-Chair
Pascal Dutru
Co-Chair
Angela Flannery
Communications Law Committee
The Communications Law Committee is a leading global forum for legal practitioners with specialist expertise or interest in the communications sector. The Committee offers members access to a worldwide network of leading practitioners, in-house counsel and regulators active in digital, communications and media markets. We encourage the sharing of sectoral expertise through regular publication of articles, periodic issues of our technical journal, the annual committee conference hosted jointly with IBA Antitrust Section, and specialised sessions at the IBA Annual Conference. The scope of the Committee’s work covers network, service and content-related developments across all delivery platforms. This provides members with access to practical global perspectives on the array of technological, commercial and policy issues which confront communications lawyers, their companies and clients.
- A comparative review of functional separation as a structural remedy in telecommunications markets around the world;
- the regulatory implications of local access fibre deployments and the impact on the business models of network operators and service providers;
- the risks and opportunities for operators looking to capitalise on investment in IP-based platforms by moving down the value chain into a fragmented media marketplace;
- the unique character of emerging and developing communications markets and what this means for transactions, opportunities and regulatory policy in those markets;
- regulatory issues associated with market developments such as fixed-mobile substitution, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Video on Demand (VoD) and Television over Internet Protocol (IPTV), user-generated content, digital switchover, mobile broadband and unified communications;
- the new and important legal developments occurring in communications markets at the interface between regulation, antitrust and the web; and
- the function of global standards (including the evolution of new wireless and IP standards) and the function and regulation of standards bodies.
Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences
34th Annual IBA Communications and Competition Law Conference
28 Apr - 29 Apr 2025
Paris , France
IBA Annual Conference Toronto 2025
02 Nov - 07 Nov 2025
Toronto , Canada
IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026
04 Oct - 09 Oct 2026
Copenhagen , Denmark
Committee Activities
The Committee organises many activities throughout the year, providing members with invaluable opportunities to keep abreast of the latest developments in communications and digital law, share practical insights, and network with in-house and private practice lawyers as well as with regulators.
Annual Communications and Competition Law Conference
In cooperation with the Antitrust Section, the Communications Law Committee organise the very popular annual Communications and Competition Law Conference, which is a two-day conference addressing regulatory and industry developments in the areas of communications and antitrust law.
A hallmark of the conference is that it provides a forum for industry regulators, thought leaders and leading practitioners to discuss how they see communications and antitrust law evolving to address topical issues such as infrastructure sharing, internet of things (loT), 5G rollouts, ‘virtual’ competition issues raised by the digital economy and consolidation as well as antitrust challenges in dealing with new technology players.
The conference has been highly popular, and in 2019 we celebrated the 30th anniversary of its inauguration.
Annual IBA Conference
The Committee hosts various panel sessions on communications law issues and lead, chair, contribute or participate in sessions with other committees at the 2020 IBA Annual conference in Miami, with topics including the signature ‘round-the-tables’ event.
We have established working groups focused on particular topics for members to be more involved in areas of their specialisation and interest, so they may discuss and interact with peers on emerging issues and also support engagement with members at meetings, conferences and in other initiatives.
We have two working groups covering the following topic areas:
Digital Economy & Communications
This working group focuses on the legal and regulatory challenges raised by the digital economy (AI, algorithms, blockchain, etc). It also focuses on the evolution of the internet value-chain and the increased competition stemming from (and potential regulation of) platforms, tech and data companies.
- Regulating the Disruptors? Shaping EU Communications and Media Regulation and EU Competition Policy in a New Digitalised Era
A report on the status of the regulation of the digital economy in the EU. April 2019.
Data & Communications
This working group focuses on the intersection of the regulation of data and communications. It covers issues such as privacy for communications, Big Data, access to data and communications, personal/non-personal data regulation, cybersecurity and the free flow of data/data localisation.
- Data localisation guide: A report on global data isolationism
The purpose of this publication is to provide a tool comparing the data localisation regimes that exist in various countries around the world.
The Committee is involved in the Intellectual Property, Communications and Technology Law Section programme for planning a scholarship for a young lawyer with a topical subject.
The Committee are proud to also be involved in many important IBA projects such as the United Nations sponsored UN-GGIM Project on Global Geospatial Information Management and the IBA Task Force on Government Access to IT Systems.
Publications
The regulation of foundation models in the EU AI Act
Among the various aspects of the EU artificial intelligence (AI) regulation (“the ‘AI Act’), that of the foundation models was one of the most controversial and contentious of the entire interinstitutional negotiation, capable right up until the end of derailing the agreement in the trilogue and spreading uncertainty even up to the date of the definitive approval by part of the Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to the European Union (Coreper) on 2 February 2024.
Released on Apr 12, 2024
‘How to master Europe’s digital infrastructure needs?’: A brief overview of the European Commission White Paper
On 21 February, the European Commission published a White Paper on ‘How to master Europe’s digital infrastructure needs?’ in view of the technological, economic and geopolitical challenges facing the EU in the digital decade. This White Paper identifies key trends and challenges in the digital infrastructure sector and discusses possible scenarios for public policy actions, such as a possible future Digital Networks Act, which aims to incentivise the building of the digital networks of the future, master the transition to new technologies and business models, meet the future connectivity needs of all end-users, underpin the competitiveness of our economy, and ensure secure and resilient infrastructures as well as the EU’s economic security. The White Paper proposes three main pillars of action: creating the 3C Network – ‘Connected Collaborative Computing’; completing the Digital Single Market; and ensuring secure and resilient digital infrastructures for Europe. It launches a broad consultation of stakeholders and invites comments until 30 June 2024. This article provides a summary of the White Paper.
Released on Apr 12, 2024
Pakistan's IT and ITeS export strategy: a gateway to economic prosperity and global recognition
Pakistan's recent launch of its first-ever information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services (ITeS) Export Strategy, which aims to raise IT exports to $10 billion over the next three years, represents a pivotal moment in the country's economic and technological progress.
Released on Apr 12, 2024
Tackling interconnect debts in the Nigerian telecommunications industry
A troubling feature of interconnection relationships in Nigeria is the huge interconnect debt profile of many operators. It appears that some operators have taken undue advantage of the fact that their creditors cannot unilaterally disconnect without the approval of the telecoms industry regulator.
Released on Apr 12, 2024
Guides
Digital Regulations in the Metaverse Era: Metaverse Guide
As the metaverse continues to expand, it brings with it a myriad of opportunities and challenges that span across various legal and regulatory domains. This guide aims to provide a thorough understanding of these complexities, offering insights into the digital regulatory environment for a number of jurisdictions worldwide.
Subcommittees and other groups
The Communications Law Committee also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.
- Communications Law Committee Advisory Board
Join us on LinkedIn
If you are a member of the Communications Law Committee, for additional networking opportunities, programs, interviews with fellow members and tips all exclusive to members, join our LinkedIn page at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9512124/.