Telecommunications
Laws of the World

An overview of key regulatory requirements for the provision of communications services around the globe, including licensing, interconnection, consumer protection and fees.

Compare telecoms laws around the world

Our global telecommunications team brings extensive regulatory, transactional, technical, and commercial expertise to advise carriers, service providers, infrastructure owners, investors, and enterprise users on critical business matters worldwide. With on-the-ground advisers who understand local regimes and cross-border strategy, we support the entire digital infrastructure lifecycle—including spectrum and licensing, network build-out and sharing, fiber and subsea assets, data centers and edge infrastructure, satellite and non-terrestrial networks, as well as M&A, joint ventures, and financing across these asset classes. Engineers are integrated within our team to ensure a thorough understanding of complex and novel technologies and their impact on the business and regulatory issues you face.

Telecommunications infrastructure underpins modern digital business—from secure data transport and cloud connectivity to ultra-low latency applications. As operators evolve beyond connectivity to offer differentiated, customer-specific, and value-added solutions, we help structure and execute partnerships and products that protect margins and accelerate growth. Meanwhile, the rapid expansion of OTT (over-the-top) and cloud-based services continues to challenge traditional regulatory frameworks. We guide clients through these converging models, addressing licensing, market access, optimization of spectrum holdings, wholesale arrangements, and compliance challenges where service delivery relies on incumbent networks.

This handbook serves as a practical guide to navigating key regulatory themes and market developments that are reshaping the global communications landscape.

Our global coverage

With our diverse team of lawyers, policy advisors, and engineers in more than 40 countries across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific, we support multi-country transactions and global market-entry and product development strategies.

Additional information

DLA Piper offers integrated engineering services, combining advanced spectrum modeling and complex data analytics with regulatory advocacy and international coordination. Using its proprietary tools, the team simulates interference scenarios across satellite, terrestrial, and wireline systems; distills large technical datasets into actionable market insights; and supports spectrum allocation, licensing, and market access strategies in the United States and worldwide. The team’s representative work includes 5G spectrum sharing studies, 6 GHz coexistence analysis, FCC licensing data mining, NGSO/GSO interference modeling (including EPFD), technical analysis for ESIMs onboard aircraft, vessels, and vehicles, and negotiation of domestic and international satellite coordination agreements. With experience across the FCC, NTIA, ITU, ITSO, NOAA and participation in World Radiocommunication Conference processes, the practice aligns engineering evidence with policy objectives to protect client interests, enable device homologation, and optimize spectrum holdings, coverage, and competitive positioning.

Linked here is the Engineering Services brochure.

DLA Piper's work spans the entire digital infrastructure lifecycle, including spectrum and licensing, network build‑out and sharing, fiber and subsea assets, data centers and edge, satellite and non‑terrestrial networks, as well as M&A, joint ventures, and financings across these asset classes. Engineers are integrated within our team to ensure we understand complex and novel technologies, and their impact on the business and regulatory issues you face.

With our diverse team of lawyers, policy advisors, and engineers worldwide, we are well-positioned to assist you with multi-country and global deals in addition to regional and international strategies for market entry and product development. With DLA Piper offices in more than 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific, and affiliated firms, we understand the unique regulatory, legal, political, and cultural issues in each jurisdiction.

DLA Piper delivers an integrated blend of top-ranked legal, regulatory, and engineering capabilities to help telecom and technology companies scale internationally with confidence. With 160+ country coverage through its global footprint and relationship firms, the team advises on market entry, licensing, compliance, spectrum strategy, supply chain, national security, and cross-border commercial transactions. Our approach combines real-time regulatory insight from former senior industry and government leaders with advanced engineering tools for spectrum modeling, interference analysis, and data-driven advocacy. Recognized by directories for Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite and TMT, the practice supports next-generation initiatives including satellite-to-cell, global satellite deployment, drone connectivity, spectrum pipeline development, and space sustainability. The team delivers end-to-end guidance from policy monitoring and multi-jurisdictional surveys to technical studies and equipment homologation enabling efficient, compliant, and scalable global growth.

Link here is the Going Global brochure.