Directive 2002/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on universal service and users' rights relating to electronic communications networks and services (Universal Service Directive) Basic information Dates Date of document: Date of publication: Date of effect: April 24, 2002 Entry into force - Date pub. See Art 39 Date of transposition: July 24, 2003 At the latest See Art 38.1 Date of end of validity: Modified by Modified by: Implemented by: Derogated in: Repealed by: Modifies Affected by case Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 5 May 2011. Deutsche Telekom AG v Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Bundesverwaltungsgericht - Germany. Electronic communications - Directive 2002/22/EC - Article 25(2) - Directive 2002/58/EC - Article 12 - Provision of directory enquiry services and directories - Obligation placed on an undertaking assigning telephone numbers to pass to other undertakings data in its possession relating to the subscribers of third-party undertakings. Case C-543/09. Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 18 March 2010. Rosalba Alassini v Telecom Italia SpA (C-317/08), Filomena Califano v Wind SpA (C-318/08), Lucia Anna Giorgia Iacono v Telecom Italia SpA (C-319/08) and Multiservice Srl v Telecom Italia SpA (C-320/08). References for a preliminary ruling: Giudice di pace di Ischia - Italy. Reference for a preliminary ruling - Principle of effective judicial protection - Electronic communications networks and services -Directive 2002/22/EC - Universal Service - Disputes between end-users and providers - Mandatory to attempt an out-of-court settlement. Joined cases C-317/08, C-318/08, C-319/08 and C-320/08. Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 21 December 2016. TDC A/S v Teleklagenævnet and Erhvervs- og Vækstministeriet. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Østre Landsret. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Electronic communications networks and services — Directive 2002/22/EC — Universal service — Articles 12 and 13 — Calculation of the cost of universal service obligations — Article 32 — Compensation for costs relating to additional mandatory services — Direct effect — Article 107(1) and Article 108(3) TFEU — Maritime radio safety and emergency services in Denmark and Greenland — National rules — Submission of an application for compensation for costs relating to additional mandatory services — Three-month time limit — Principles of equivalence and effectiveness). Case C-327/15. Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 13 December 2018. France Télévisions SA v Playmédia and Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA). Request for a preliminary ruling from the Conseil d'État (France). Reference for a preliminary ruling — Directive 2002/22/EC — Electronic communications networks and services — Universal service and users’ rights — Undertaking providing an electronic communications network used for the distribution of radio or television broadcasts to the public — Undertaking offering the live streaming of television programmes online — ‘Must carry’ obligation. Case C-298/17. Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 13 July 2006. Mobistar SA v Institut belge des services postaux et des télécommunications (IBPT). Reference for a preliminary ruling: Cour d'appel de Bruxelles - Belgium. Telecommunications sector - Universal service and users' rights - Telephone number portability - Set-up costs for the provision of number portability for mobile phones - Article 30(2) of Directive 2002/22/EC (Universal Service Directive) - Pricing for interconnection related to the provision of number portability - Price orientation by reference to costs - Regulatory power of national regulatory authorities - Article 4(1) of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) - Effective legal protection - Protection of confidential information. Case C-438/04. Case C-99/09: Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 1 July 2010 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Sąd Najwyższy (Poland)) — Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa sp. z o.o. v Prezes Urzędu Komunikacji Elektronicznej (Telecommunication services — Directive 2002/22/EC — Article 30(2) — Portability of telephone numbers — Power of the national regulatory authorities — Direct charge to the subscriber — Disincentive — Taking costs into consideration) {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 30 2 Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 6 October 2010. Base NV and Others v Ministerraad. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Grondwettelijk Hof - Belgium. Electronic communications - Directive 2002/21/EC (‘Framework’ Directive) - Articles 2(g), 3 and 4 - National regulatory authority - National legislature acting as national regulatory authority - Directive 2002/22/EC (‘Universal Service’ Directive) - Networks and services - Article 12 - Costing of universal service obligations - Social component of universal service - Article 13 - Financing of universal service obligations - Determination of whether an ‘unfair burden’ exists. Case C-389/08. Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 22 December 2008. Kabel Deutschland Vertrieb und Service GmbH & Co. KG v Niedersächsische Landesmedienanstalt für privaten Rundfunk. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Verwaltungsgericht Hannover - Germany. Directive 2002/22/EC - Article 31(1) - Reasonable ‘must carry’ obligations - National law requiring analogue cable network operators to provide access to their cable networks to all television programmes allowed to be broadcast terrestrially - Principle of proportionality. Case C-336/07. Case C-389/08: Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 6 October 2010 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Grondwettelijk Hof (Belgium)) — Base NV, Euphony Benelux NV, Mobistar SA, Uninet International NV, T2 Belgium NV, KPN Belgium NV v Ministerraad (Electronic communications — Directive 2002/21/EC ( Framework Directive) — Articles 2(g), 3 and 4 — National regulatory authority — National legislature acting as national regulatory authority — Directive 2002/22/EC ( Universal Service Directive) — Networks and services — Article 12 — Costing of universal service obligations — Social component of universal service — Article 13 — Financing of universal service obligations — Determination of whether an unfair burden exists) {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 12 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 13 Case C-16/10: Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 17 February 2011 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Court of Appeal (England & Wales) (Civil Division) (United Kingdom)) — The Number Ltd, Conduit Enterprises Ltd v Office of Communications, British Telecommunications plc (Approximation of laws — Telecommunications — Networks and services — Directive 2002/22/EC — Designation of undertakings to provide universal service — Specific obligations imposed on the designated undertaking — Directory enquiry services and directories) {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 8 P1 Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 26 November 2015. Verein für Konsumenteninformation v A1 Telekom Austria AG. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Oberster Gerichtshof. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Directive 2002/22/EC — Electronic communications networks and services — Users’ rights — Right of subscribers to terminate their contract without penalty — Changes to charges under terms of the contract — Increase in charges in line with increase in the consumer price index. Case C-326/14. Case C-143/09: Order of the Court of 17 September 2009 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Fővárosi Bíroság (Republic of Hungary)) — Pannon GSM Távközlési Rt. v Nemzeti Hírközlési Hatóság Tanácsa (Article 104(3), first subparagraph, of the Rules of Procedure — Accession to the European Union — Directive 2002/22/EC — Application ratione temporis — Jurisdiction of the Court) {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 13.2 Case C-336/07: Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 22 December 2008 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgericht Hannover — Germany) — Kabel Deutschland Vertrieb und Service GmbH & Co. KG v Niedersächsische Landesmedienanstalt für privaten Rundfunk (Directive 2002/22/EC — Article 31(1) — Reasonable must carry obligations — National law requiring analogue cable network operators to provide access to their cable networks to all television programmes allowed to be broadcast terrestrially — Principle of proportionality) {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 31.1 Order of the Court (Second Chamber) of 17 September 2009. Pannon GSM Távközlési rt v Nemzeti Hírközlési Hatóság Tanácsa. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Fővárosi Bíróság - Hungary. Article 104(3), first subparagraph, of the Rules of Procedure - Accession to the European Union - Directive 2002/22/EC - Application ratione temporis - Jurisdiction of the Court. Case C-143/09. Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber), 7 November 2013. UPC Nederland BV v Gemeente Hilversum. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Gerechtshof te Amsterdam. Electronic communications networks and services — Directives 97/66/EC, 2002/19/EC, 2002/20/EC, 2002/21/EC and 2002/22/EC — Scope ratione materiae — Provision of a basic package of radio and television programmes via cable — Sale by a municipality of its cable network to a private undertaking — Contractual clause concerning the tariff — Powers of the national regulatory authorities — Principle of sincere cooperation. Case C‑518/11. Joined Cases C-317/08 to C-320/08: Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 18 March 2010 (references for a preliminary ruling from the Giudice di Pace di Ischia — Italy) — Rosalba Alassini (C-317/08) and Filomena Califano v Wind SpA (C-318/08) and Lucia Anna Giorgia Iacono v Telecom Italia SpA (C-319/08) and Multiservice Srl v Telecom Italia SpA (C-320/08) (Reference for a preliminary ruling — Principle of effective judicial protection — Electronic communications networks and services — Directive 2002/22/EC — Universal Service — Disputes between end users and providers — Mandatory to attempt an out-of-court settlement) {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 34 Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 10 November 2022. Eircom Limited v Commission for Communications Regulation. Reference for a preliminary ruling – Electronic communications networks and services – Universal service and users’ rights – Directive 2002/22/EC (Universal Service Directive) – Article 12 – Costing and financing of universal service obligations – Single universal service provider and multiple telecommunications services providers operating in the market – Determination as to whether an unfair burden exists. Case C-494/21. Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 14 April 2016. Polkomtel sp. z o.o. v Prezes Urzędu Komunikacji Elektronicznej. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Sąd Najwyższy. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Electronic communications networks and services — Directive 2002/22/EC — Article 28 — Non-geographic numbers — Access by end-users residing in the Member State for operators to services using non-geographic numbers — Directive 2002/19/EC — Articles 5, 8 and 13 — Powers and responsibilities of the national regulatory authorities with regard to access and interconnection — Imposition, amendment or withdrawal of obligations — Imposition of obligations on undertakings that control access to end-users — Price control — Undertaking not having significant market power on the market — Directive 2002/21/EC — Resolution of disputes between undertakings — Decision of the national regulatory authority laying down the conditions of cooperation and the pricing procedures for services between undertakings. Case C-397/14. Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 8 June 2023. Fastweb SpA and Others v Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Consiglio di Stato. Reference for a preliminary ruling – Electronic communications networks and services – Directives 2002/19/EC, 2002/20/EC, 2002/21/EC et 2002/22/EC – Article 49 TFEU – Freedom of establishment – Article 56 TFEU – Freedom to provide services – National legislation granting the national regulatory authority the power to impose on telephony service providers a minimum time frame for the renewal of offers and a minimum time frame for billing – Consumer protection – Principle of proportionality – Principle of equal treatment. Case C-468/20. Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 11 March 2010. Telekommunikacja Polska SA w Warszawie v Prezes Urzędu Komunikacji Elektronicznej. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Naczelny Sąd Administracyjny - Poland. Electronic communications - Telecommunications services - Directive 2002/21/EC - Directive 2002/22/EC - Making the conclusion of a contract for the provision of services contingent on the conclusion of a contract for the supply of other services - Prohibition - Broadband internet. Case C-522/08. Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 17 February 2011. The Number Ltd and Conduit Enterprises Ltd v Office of Communications and British Telecommunications plc. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Court of Appeal (England & Wales) (Civil Division) - United Kingdom. Approximation of laws - Telecommunications - Networks and services - Directive 2002/22/EC - Designation of undertakings to provide universal service - Specific obligations imposed on the designated undertaking - Directory enquiry services and directories. Case C-16/10. A06 A04 A09P2 A08P1 A05 A07 Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 17 September 2015. KPN BV v Autoriteit Consument en Markt (ACM). Request for a preliminary ruling from the College van Beroep voor het Bedrijfsleven. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Electronic communications networks and services — Universal service and users’ rights — Directive 2002/22/EC — Article 28 — Access to numbers and to services — Non-geographic numbers — Directive 2002/19/EC — Articles 5, 8 and 13 — Powers of the national regulatory authorities — Price control — Call transit services — National legislation requiring providers of telephone call transit services not to charge higher tariffs for calls to non-geographic numbers than for calls to geographic numbers — Undertaking without significant market power — Relevant national authority. Case C-85/14. Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 22 November 2007. Deutsche Telekom AG v Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Bundesverwaltungsgericht - Germany. Telecommunications sector - Universal service and users’ rights - Definition of ‘obligations’ which are to be provisionally maintained - First paragraph of Article 27 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) and Article 16(1)(a) of Directive 2002/22/EC (Universal Service Directive) - Tariffs for the supply of voice telephony services - Requirement for administrative authorisation. Case C-262/06. Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 6 October 2015. Český telekomunikační úřad v T-Mobile Czech Republic a.s. and Vodafone Czech Republic a.s. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Nejvyšší správní soud. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Directive 2002/22/EC (Universal Service Directive) — Costing of universal service obligations — Taking account of the rate of return on equity capital — Direct effect — Scope ratione temporis. Case C-508/14. Judgment of the Court (Eighth Chamber) of 17 September 2015. Fratelli De Pra SpA and SAIV SpA v Agenzia Entrate - Direzione Provinciale Ufficio Controlli Belluno and Agenzia Entrate - Direzione Provinciale Ufficio Controlli Vicenza. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Commissione Tributaria Regionale di Mestre-Venezia. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Telecommunications networks and services — Directives 2002/19/EC, 2002/20/EC, 2002/21/EC, 2002/22/EC — Free circulation of terminal equipment for terrestrial mobile telecommunications — Directive 1999/5/EC — Tax on the use of equipment — General authorisation or licence for use — Subscription contract equivalent to a general authorisation or licence — Differential treatment of users depending on whether or not they have a subscription contract. Case C-416/14. Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 15 March 2017. Tele2 (Netherlands) BV and Others v Autoriteit Consument en Markt (ACM). Request for a preliminary ruling from the College van Beroep voor het Bedrijfsleven. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Electronic communications networks and services — Directive 2002/22/EC — Article 25(2) — Directory enquiry services and directories — Directive 2002/58/EC — Article 12 — Directories of subscribers — Making available personal data concerning subscribers for the purposes of the provision of publicly available directory enquiry services and directories — Subscriber’s consent — Distinction on the basis of the Member State in which publicly available directory enquiry services and directories are provided — Principle of non-discrimination. Case C-536/15. Judgment of the Court (Ninth Chamber) of 11 December 2019. TV Play Baltic AS v Lietuvos radijo ir televizijos komisija. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Lietuvos vyriausiasis administracinis teismas. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Electronic communications networks and services — Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) — Article 2(m) — Provision of an electronic communications network — Concept — Directive 2002/22/EC (Universal Service Directive) — Article 31(1) — ‘Must carry’ obligation to broadcast specified radio and television channels — Operator offering a package of channels via satellite — Reasonable ‘must carry’ obligations — Conditions — Article 56 TFEU — Proportionality. Case C-87/19. Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 5 September 2019. AW and Others v Lietuvos valstybė and Lietuvos valstybė. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Vilniaus apygardos administracinis teismas. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Directive 2002/22/EC — Universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services — Article 26(5) — Single European emergency call number — Making available caller location information. Case C-417/18. Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 1 July 2010. Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa sp. z o.o. v Prezes Urzędu Komunikacji Elektronicznej. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Sąd Najwyższy - Poland. Telecommunication services - Directive 2002/22/EC - Article 30(2) - Portability of telephone numbers - Power of the national regulatory authorities - Direct charge to the subscriber - Disincentive - Taking costs into consideration. Case C-99/09. Case C-522/08: Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 11 March 2010 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Naczelny Sąd Administracyjny (Poland)) — Telekomunikacja Polska SA w Warszawie v Prezes Urzędu Komunikacji Elektronicznej (Electronic communications — Telecommunications services — Directive 2002/21/EC — Directive 2002/22/EC — Making the conclusion of a contract for the provision of services contingent on the conclusion of a contract for the supply of other services — Prohibition — Broadband internet) Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 11 June 2015. Base Company NV and Mobistar NV v Ministerraad. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Grondwettelijk Hof. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Electronic communications networks and services — Directive 2002/22/EC — Articles 4, 9, 13 and 32 — Universal service obligations and social obligations — Provision of access at a fixed location and provision of telephone services — Affordability of tariffs — Special tariff options — Financing of the universal service obligations — Additional mandatory services — Mobile communication services and/or internet subscription services. Case C-1/14. Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 16 April 2015. Prezes Urzędu Komunikacji Elektronicznej and Telefonia Dialog sp. z o.o. v T-Mobile Polska SA. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Sąd Najwyższy. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Electronic communications networks and services — Directive 2002/21/EC — Articles 7 and 20 — Resolution of disputes between undertakings providing electronic communications networks or services — Obligation to implement the procedure laid down in Article 7(3) — Measure which may have an effect on trade between Member States — Directive 2002/19/EC — Article 5 — Powers and responsibilities of the national regulatory authorities with regard to access and interconnection — Directive 2002/22/EC — Article 28 — Non-geographic numbers. Case C-3/14. Case C-87/19: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Lietuvos vyriausiasis administracinis teismas (Lithuania) lodged on 7 February 2019 — TV Play Baltic AS v Lietuvos radijo ir televizijos komisija Case C-298/17: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Conseil d’État (France) lodged on 23 May 2017 — France Télévisions SA v Playmédia, Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) Case C-417/18: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Vilniaus apygardos administracinis teismas (Lithuania) lodged on 26 June 2018 — AW, BV, CU, DT v Republic of Lithuania, represented by Lietuvos Respublikos ryšių reguliavimo tarnyba, Bendrasis pagalbos centras and Lietuvos Respublikos vidaus reikalų ministerija Case C-468/20: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Consiglio di Stato (Italy) lodged on 29 September 2020 — Fastweb SpA and Others v Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni article 21 article 22 article 20 Case C-416/14: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Commissione Tributaria Regionale di Mestre-Venezia (Italy) lodged on 3 September 2014 — Fratelli De Pra SpA and SAIV SpA v Agenzia Entrate — Direzione Provinciale Ufficio Controlli Belluno and Agenzia Entrate — Direzione Provinciale Ufficio Controlli Vicenza Case C-273/23, Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni and Others: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Consiglio di Stato (Italy) lodged on 26 April 2023 — Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni and Others v Telecom Italia SpA and Others Case C-612/23, Verbraucherzentrale Berlin: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf (Germany) lodged on 6 October 2023 — Verbraucherzentrale Berlin eV v Vodafone GmbH Case C-327/15: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Østre Landsret (Denmark) lodged on 2 July 2015 — TDC A/S v Teleklagenævnet, Erhvervs- og Vækstministeriet Case C-536/15: Request for a preliminary ruling from the College van Beroep voor het Bedrijfsleven (Netherlands) lodged on 13 October 2015 — Tele2 (Netherlands) BV and Others v Autoriteit Consument en Markt (ACM), Other party: European Directory Assistance NV Case C-55/17: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Consiglio di Stato (Italia) lodged on 1 February 2017 — Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato v Vodafone Omnitel NV Case C-54/17: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Consiglio di Stato (Italia) lodged on 1 February 2017 — Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato v Wind Telecomunicazioni SpA Case C-397/14: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Sąd Najwyższy (Poland) lodged on 20 August 2014 — Polkomtel Sp. z o.o. v Prezes Urzędu Komunikacji Elektronicznej Legal basis Treaty establishing the European Community (Amsterdam consolidated version) Part Five: Institutions of the Community Title I: Provisions governing the institutions Chapter 2: Provisions common to several institutions Article 251 Article 189b - EC Treaty (Maastricht consolidated version) Treaty establishing the European Community (Amsterdam consolidated version) Part Three: Community policies Title VI: Common rules on competition, taxation and approximation of laws Chapter 3: Approximation of laws Article 95 Article 100a - EC Treaty (Maastricht consolidated version) EuroVoc Vocabulary Freedom of establishment Electronic mail Transmission network Access to information Consumer protection General Approximation of laws Information technology, telecommunications and data-processing Internal market - Principles Consumer protection Telecommunications