The effective implementation of telecommunications regulation and the achievement of its objectives may be influenced by other laws that affect the sector. In meeting other government objectives, laws may be passed that directly or indirectly affect the development of the telecommunications sector. These laws may enhance or diminish the effectiveness of the telecommunications legal and regulatory framework in creating an enabling environment for the development of the sector, affecting the degree of investment and competitiveness in the sector, and the ease of accessibility by new entrants to the market.
The breadth of legislation potentially affecting the telecommunications sector is quite expansive. This section focuses on the legislation generally considered to most directly impact the sector – tax laws, foreign ownership laws, consumer protection laws, spam legislation, and property laws. The interaction between competition law and telecommunications law is addressed more fully in Section 3.3.