UK net neutrality and open internet access: assimilated Regulation (EU) 2015/2120, Ofcom powers and 2023 statement, zero‑rating guidance, traffic management, specialised services, transparency and enforcement

Published by a LexisNexis TMT expert

Practice notes

Net neutrality

‘Net neutrality’ denotes the idea that the internet should operate without discrimination, ensuring every user enjoys the same opportunity to reach any online resource. Coined in 2003 by Tim Wu, a Columbia University media law scholar, the label sits within a wider set of principles upholding freedom in how the internet is used. Framed as a flexible answer to the technology sector’s evolving needs, it places decision-making over what people encounter online with the individual rather than the broadband company that provides their connection.

In practice, this amounts to an open internet, where internet service providers (ISPs) deliver connections and treat all content and services even-handedly, with service quality keeping pace with technological progress. Viewed through a legal lens, net neutrality is commonly expressed as a ban on limits and/or discriminatory measures that hinder people’s access to online material. The doctrine emerged from European legislation, largely as a counter to certain traffic-management tactics used by ISPs that favoured or penalised specific data flows...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Ronnie Preiskel

Preiskel & Co LLP

Ronnie Preiskel, Managing Partner, Preiskel & Co LLP Ronnie is a co-founder of the telecoms and technology specialist law firm, Preiskel & Co LLP. He has over 20 years' experience working in the telecoms, media and technology sectors in a wide variety of roles. Ronnie is ranked in various guides such as Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. Ronnie has the benefit of having worked for many years within the industry including for British Telecommunications PLC, a Vodafone JV and a mobile services start-up. In addition to his work in the TMT sector, Ronnie also advises a number of retail and leisure businesses on fundraising, franchising and commercial matters. ...

Daniel Preiskel

Preiskel & Co LLP

· Daniel is a co-founder of Preiskel & Co and has well over 20 years’ experience working in the telecoms, media and technology sectors, advising across the globe. He has been ranked for about 25 years in major independent research guides as one of the world’s leading communications lawyers. He was recently ranked as one of only 7 Telecoms Global Thought Leaders by WhosWholegal who also ranked him as a Data Thought Leader. · He is particularly recognised for his international commercial and regulatory work in the telecoms sector as a whole. Daniel leads an international team providing telecoms regulatory, commercial and corporate advice to telecoms clients across the globe. Highly regarded in the telecoms industry, he has been for some years a Judge on the industry’s most prestigious Capacity Awards and was on the Mobile Ecosystem Forum EMEA...

Maria Constantin

Preiskel & Co LLP

· Maria is a newly-qualified UK lawyer at Preiskel & Co with wide-ranging experience across the firm’s corporate, commercial, competition and media departments. · Maria advises clients ranging from startups to enterprise-level businesses in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications sectors on matters relating to fundraising, franchising, corporate governance matters and commercial disputes. She also has experience advising clients on the adoption of data protection protocols with a particular focus on ensuring compliance with GDPR. Maria also provides commercial legal advice to clients in the media and entertainment sectors, particularly relating to the financing, production and exploitation of filmed content for feature films and television. Maria holds an undergraduate degree in Law from Queen Mary University in London. Following her undergraduate degree, she completed an LLM in International Banking and Finance Law at University College London. She then finished her studies by completing the Legal Practice Course with...

Web page updated on 22/05/2026

Popular documents

Using the Judicial College Guidelines to assess general damages in personal injury claims

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Tomlin orders in England and Wales: CPR guidance on drafting, confidentiality, approval, variation, enforcement, limitation, CCA issues, court-specific requirements, sample wording and precedents

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Precedent: Deed of Surrender of Lease with Optional Premium, Settlement and Release, Landlord, Mortgagee and Guarantor Consents, Reimbursement and HM Land Registry Provisions (England and Wales)

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Precedent Statutory Declaration: Standard Wording under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...