​The purpose of these Regulations is to give effect to Directive 2002/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services (Authorisation Directive), and the amendments to that Directive as introduced by Directive 2009/140/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009.

As well as transposing the amendments made by Directive 2009/140/EC, these Regulations consolidate the provisions of the existing Statutory Instruments transposing the Authorisation Directive, namely, the “European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Authorisation) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 306 of 2003)” and the “European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Authorisation) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 372 of 2007)”, which have been revoked by these Regulations.

The aim of these Regulations is to facilitate the freedom to provide electronic communications networks and services through the harmonisation and simplification of authorisation rules and conditions.