Binding rules on spectrum fees, an EU authorisation regime for satellite services, a new EU access product and a “conciliation" process for IP interconnection disputes are among the main elements of the upcoming Digital Networks Act (DNA, Tracker).
The preliminary observations below are based on a leaked version of the draft DNA, still subject to change, seen by Cullen International. A more comprehensive analysis will follow once the European Commission has published the final version on 20 January 2026.
According to our analysis, these are the 11 key takeways:
- A regulation after all
- No extension of the framework to cloud
- Undetermined spectrum licence duration and spectrum sharing
- Harmonisation of spectrum fees and binding oversight
- Market analysis: an EU-level access product as the remedy of choice
- General authorisation: single passport procedure
- From network contribution fees to a “facility for voluntary conciliation”
- Copper decommissioning by 2035, subject to conditions
- Single EU-level satellite framework to replace national athorisation
- Net neutrality included in the DNA
- Governance: renamed BEREC office, revamped RSPG
Download our full analysis for details:
Clients of our European Telecoms service, can access it directly on our client portal via the following link:
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