Policy

The sector-specific regulation should be reduced because the sector has clearly been overregulated at EU level in the past decade. As a result, this does not provide sufficient support for the development of the communication services market and sector. 

According to the Emergency Act currently in force, vital services include, among others, a phone service, mobile phone service, data transmission service, digital identification and digital signing. It is ITL’s view that the institutions regulating vital services should urgently draw up implementing regulations explaining the actual contents of these services. It is also crucial to monitor the inter-linkages between the services that are revealed during the interdependency analysis of the services. We are currently actively participating in the process of drawing up the “Description and continuity requirements of vital communications services” regulation.

A modern communication infrastructure is a prerequisite for normal functioning of companies’ economic activity and for the provision of different communications services to individuals. According to ITL, it is crucial that companies can develop new-generation communications networks in a normal competitive situation with minimal regulatory interference from the state. In order to ensure a reasonable business environment, ITL has provided input for the documentANALYSIS OF AND PROPOSITIONS REGARDING THE CREATION OF FAST INTERNET CONNECTIONS (“THE LAST MILE”), which was drafted in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (MKM). ITL also acts as a partner for MKM, by collecting, analysing and providing input for the state under the broadband base network support measure regarding communications network development needs in 2018.

As of 25 May 2018, the law on the protection of personal data currently in force in Estonia will be replaced by the new European Union General Data Protection Regulation, which regulates the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and free movement of such data. This has a significant impact on the activities of the members of ITL. 

Digital Agenda 2020 for Estonia states that a prerequisite for achieving smarter governance by 2020 is achieving the ratio of 100% in e-invoicing between the public and private sectors. Directive 2014/55/EL of the European Parliament and of the Council provides that by the end of 2018, e-invoicing must be compulsory in public procurements at least, whereas an agreement has also been reached regarding e-invoice standards applying throughout the EU, which all member states are required to support. The objective of the e-invoice panel at ITL is to contribute to achieving this goal through its activities: e-invoices must become the primary output in all invoicing processes in transactions between the private and public sector (B2G), as well as between private sector companies (B2B) and businesses and consumers (B2C), both domestically and internationally. World practices show that in promoting e-invoicing, the key role is in the hands of the state. Compulsory e-invoicing in the public sector will lead to the use of e-invoicing in all other sectors – this will increase the transparency of the business environment, reduce the time and money spent on routine activities, help make maximum use of resources and increase productivity. An increase in the digitalisation level of companies allows for re-orienting the workforce from mundane work to retraining – the ICT sector needs specialists with digital skills. The state must serve as an example to the private sector by acting steadfastly and making e-invoicing obligatory.