BEREC Report on the interplay between the EECC and the EC’s proposal for a Digital Markets Act concerning number-independent interpersonal communication services

Document number: BoR (21) 85

Document date: 10-06-2021

Date of registration: 11-06-2021

Document type:
Author: BEREC

The European Commission (EC)’s proposal on the Digital Markets Act (DMA ) includes in its scope number-independent interpersonal communication services (NI-ICS), considering them as one of the Core Platform Services (CPSs) subject to regulation. As an electronic communication service (ECS), NI-ICS are also regulated under the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) with the aim of promoting connectivity in the electronic communications sector, developing the internal market, as well as promoting the interest of European citizens.

This report presents an analysis of the definition of NI-ICS in the EECC, the regulation in the EECC and e-Privacy Directive, as well as the implications of regulating NI-ICS under the DMA. Additionally, BEREC shares some reflections for the Digital Services Act (DSA) derived from the analysis of the definition of NI-ICS.