Legislation

The legal framework for electronic communications services is influenced by Directives of the European Union. Having signed the Agreement on the European Economic Area Iceland has made a commitment to adopt all of the Directives of EU in the fields of electronic communications services. The Electronic Communications Act and the Act on the ECOI, implement the major provisions of the EU Communications Directive package of 2002.  The Act contains a number of provisions either mandating or authorising the Minister of Transport and Communications to issue regulations to complement the Acts. In some cases the EICO is either mandated or authorized to issue rules about the implementation of certain aspects of the Acts.

A list of Acts, regulations and rules in force follows with the appropriate web links. No responsibility is assumed for the accuracy of English texts after translation as they are unofficial. Legal authenticity remains with the original Icelandic versions.

Electronic Communications Office of Iceland (ECOI)

• Act no. 75/2021 on Electronic Communications Office of Iceland (ECOI)

The Post and Telecom Administration

•  Act on the Post and Tele­com Administration, No. 69, 24 March 2003
  • Act no. 62/2012 amending the Electronic Communications Act and the Act on the Post and Telecom Administration (CERT-IS, operating fee, etc.).
    
    A new Act ,No. 172, 20 December 2006,  on an amendment on the Act on the Post and Telecom Administration entered into force on January 1st. 2007.  
    Act No 172/2006 (in icelandic)
     

Rulings Committee

• Regulation no. 36/2009 on the Rulings Committee for Electronic Communication and Postal Affairs (PDF)

Electronic Communications in general

• Electronic Communications Act No. 81, 26 March 2003
  • Act no. 62/2012 amending the Electronic Communications Act and the Act on the Post and Telecom Administration (CERT-IS, operating fee, etc.).
• Act on Third-Generation Mobile Telephony, No 8, 15. February 2005
• European Regulatory Framework (applies in Iceland)

• Rules on indoor cables for electronic communications no. 1111/2015 (Icelandic)
• Regulation on the planning and allocation of frequencies no. 1047/2011 (Icelandic)
• Regulation on accounting and cost analysis in the operations of electronic communications undertakings no. 564/2011 (Icelandic)
• Regulation on electronic communications billing no.526/2011 (PDF)
• Regulation regarding Premium rate services, no. 780/2010 ( Icelandic)
• Regulation on the protection of information in public communications networks, no 1221/2007 (PDF)
• Regulation on the functionality of public communications networks, no 1222/2007 (PDF)
• Regulation on on protection, functionality, and quality of IP communications services, no 1223/2007 (PDF)
• Regulation regarding Universal Service, no. 1356/2007 (Icelandic)
• Rules about General Authorisation to operate electronic communications networks or services, no. 345/2005 (Icelandic)
• Regulation about the operations of radio amateurs no. 348/2004 (Icelandic)
•                    Regulation nr. 1303/2017 - Amendment of regulation 348/2004 (Icelandic) (see pdf version for appendix)
• Regulation on the operations of electronic communications undertakings domicied in states outside the European Economic Area no. 734/2000 (Icelandic)
• Regulation about standardisation in the fields of information technology and telecommunications, no. 35/1995 (Icelandic)
• Regulation concerning the operation of radio stations, no. 493/1988 (Icelandic)
• Regulation concerning the use of Citizen Band radio stations in the 27 MHz band, no. 2/1987 (Icelandic)

Numbers and frequencies

• Rules on structure, assignment and use of numbers, number sequences and addresses in the domain of electronic communications no. 590/2015 (Icelandic)
• Rules for number and services portability, no.617/2010 (Icelandic)
• Rules for carrier selection and carrier pre-selection in telephone networks,no. 655/2010 (Icelandic)

Equipment

• R&TTE Directive 1999/5EC - rules for the placing on the market and putting into service of Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment

Marine equipment

• Regulation on the safety of fishing vessels of 15 meters in length overall and over, as amended, no 122/2004 (PDF on the web of the Icelandic Maritime Administration)
• Regulation concerning the telecommunication equipment and telecommunications to and from Icelandic ships, no. 53/2000 (Icelandic)
• Regulation concerning GMDSS radio equipment in ships, no. 513/1998 (Icelandic)
• Regulations on emergency beacons on the frequency 121.5 MHz, no 445/1993 (Icelandic)
• Regulation on emergency beacons on the frequency 406 MHz, no. 71/1991 (Icelandic)

Broadcasting

• Media Act no. 38/2011 (PDF, english translation)