James Konidaris
Special Counsel
James Konidaris has extensive legal and regulatory experience in communications and technology, spanning Australia, the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
James advises on a broad range of regulatory, policy and commercial matters, including international and multijurisdictional advice and transactions, advising global companies in the IT, communications, financial services and automotive sectors, as well as regulatory authorities and not-for-profit organisations. He works closely with communications regulatory authorities on major projects to draft laws, regulations and other regulatory instruments.
In addition, James advises various private equity, private lending and real estate investment firms, as well as various technology and manufacturing companies on Australia’s foreign investment regulatory framework, ensuring a seamless entry to the Australian market.
James is Co-Vice President of the Australian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications. He is also co-author of the EU Electronic Communications Code Handbook (Bloomsbury Professional) and a contributing author to the LexisNexis Practice Notes on The European Electronic Communications Code and Radio Spectrum Regulation.
Practice Area
Panel
- Contributing Author
Membership
- Co-Vice President of the Australian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications.
Qualifications
- Deakin University, Melbourne, LLB (Hons)
- Deakin University, Melbourne, BSc
Education
- Deakin University, Melbourne
2 Contributions by James Konidaris
PRACTICE NOTES
EU Electronic Communications Code: scope, OTT coverage, authorisation, spectrum, access, SMP and remedies; universal service; NIS 2 security changes; potential repeal by the proposed Digital Networks Act
STOP PRESS: This Practice Note reflects the current legislative position. However, the Commission published a proposal on 21 January 2026 for a Digital Networks Act that may repeal the European Electronic Communications Code. To follow the Digital Networks Act’s progress through the EU legislative process, see Practice Note: Media, digital and telecoms tracker—EU.
This Practice Note provides guidance on Directive (EU) 2018/1972 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code (Recast), commonly known as the European Electronic Communications Code and, in this note, the EECC. The EECC recasts and brings together the principal directives that originally made up the EU‑wide framework for regulating electronic communications networks (ECNs) and electronic communications services (ECSs).
The aim of the European Electronic Communications Code
The EECC is a directive with the central objective of creating an updated and harmonised EU‑wide regime for the regulation of ECNs and ECSs.
The previous EU telecoms regulatory framework (comprising Directive 2002/21/EC (the EU Framework Directive), Directive 2002/19/EC (the EU Access Directive), Directive 2002/22/EC (the EU Universal Service Directive), Directive 2002/20/EC (the EU Authorisation Directive) and Directive 2002/58/EC (the EU ePrivacy Directive)) pursued objectives to promote competition and the internal market...
EU Law
PRACTICE NOTES
Ofcom’s Legal Framework for Radio Spectrum in the UK and Crown Dependencies: Duties, Licensing and Auctions, Trading and Sharing, Revocation, Recognised Spectrum Access, Enforcement, and Technical Requirements
Use of the radio spectrum in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man is overseen by Ofcom under the Communications Act 2003 (CA 2003) and the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (WTA 2006). This Practice Note sets out Ofcom’s roles and obligations in spectrum regulation, together with spectrum licensing and enforcement.
Ofcom’s functions and duties
In exercising its functions, Ofcom’s primary duty is to further the interests of citizens on communications matters and to further the interests of consumers in relevant markets, where appropriate by promoting competition.
The electromagnetic spectrum is the span of wavelengths or frequencies across which electromagnetic radiation extends. Among other things, that duty therefore requires Ofcom to secure the optimal use of the electromagnetic spectrum for wireless telegraphy.
When performing its tasks, Ofcom must, in all cases, have regard to the principles of transparency, accountability, proportionality and consistency, and target regulation only at situations where action is needed. It must also have regard to other principles representing best regulatory practice, as well as various policy considerations, in so far as they appear to Ofcom to be relevant in the circumstances. These include taking account of the different needs and interests...
TMT
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