The European Commission presented the Digital Networks Act in January 2026. Despite its new name, the law builds on existing rules – mainly the EU Electronic Communications Code – to adapt them to the latest technological and geopolitical developments.
The Act is important for persons with disabilities as it will help ensure access to affordable, available and accessible electronic communication services, especially internet access and telephone calls.
Improvements and Shortcomings
The proposed text will require EU countries to proactively take measures to remove barriers for persons with disabilities. The barriers include:
- higher usage costs;
- lack of adequate equipment and support services;
- the inaccessibility of electronic communication services.
More importantly, it will continue to ensure the accessibility of emergency communications, particularly access to the European Emergency Number 112.
However, the current proposal has not addressed existing gaps and leaves current accessibility requirements largely unchanged, despite our advocacy.
Recommendations
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU are now negotiating the final text of the Act.
We are preparing amendments to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities. Our main proposals will include:
- Equivalent access: ensure the availability of relay services at all times in all Member States. These services are essential for accessible telecommunication for deaf and hard-of-hearing people and other users, yet they remain limited or unavailable in some countries.
- Emergency communications: ensure that persons with disabilities can contact other relevant emergency services in an accessible manner, beyond just calling the European emergency number 112. These include non-emergency contacts for police and firefighters, suicide prevention helplines, gender-based violence support services, and missing children and help hotlines.
- European Accessibility Act: strengthen the link with existing accessibility requirements when providing equivalent access, consulting with interested parties and establishing out-of-court dispute resolution mechanisms.
- Flexibility to introduce stronger requirements at the national level: making sure that EU countries can continue to introduce stronger national requirements to promote end-user rights.
In the coming weeks, we will start engaging with policymakers to make sure that the Digital Networks Act makes electronic communication services truly accessible to all.