Directory information product meaning

A directory information product is a printed or digital directory—such as an online database, searchable website, mobile app or machine‑readable dataset (historically including cd‑ROMs)—designed to help users of an electronic communications network find telephone numbers and related subscriber details. The term is descriptive rather than a defined statutory label, but it is widely used in telecoms regulation, contracts and competition matters in the UK and Ireland. Such products are typically compiled from subscriber listing data made available under universal service obligations to provide at least one comprehensive publicly available telephone directory and a directory enquiry service (UK: Ofcom framework under the Communications Act 2003; Ireland: ComReg regime under the Communications Regulation Acts and EU code implementation). Key legal features include: - Privacy and data protection controls (UK GDPR/GDPR and PECR/ePrivacy Regulations), covering ex‑directory preferences, consent mechanisms (notably for mobile listings and reverse searches) and limits on reuse for marketing. - Intellectual property and licensing (database right/copyright), with contractual terms on accuracy, updates and onward supply. Usage and legal principles are broadly consistent across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Operationally, UK products commonly draw on BT’s OSIS dataset, while in Ireland they use the National Directory Database (NDD) under ComReg oversight.