Background
3.The communications sector is one of the three largest economic sectors in the UK economy, accounting for around 8% of GDP. In recent times, this sector has undergone significant changes, shaped by the development and use of digital technologies by industry and consumers.
4.It was against this background that Digital Britain, the government’s investigation into this sector, was launched in autumn 2008. The government published the Digital Britain White Paper, entitled Digital Britain: Final Report (Cm 7650) in June 2009. The White Paper made a number of recommendations, some of which required legislation. The Digital Economy Act 2010 takes forward a number of these.