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Fixed lines

The definition of ‘electronic communications network’ in section 32(1) of the Communications Act 2003 states:

'(1) In this Act 'electronic communications network' means—

(a) a transmission system for the conveyance, by the use of electrical, magnetic or electro-magnetic energy, of signals of any description; and

(b) such of the following as are used, by the person providing the system and in association with it, for the conveyance of the signals—

(i) apparatus comprised in the system;

(ii) apparatus used for the switching or routing of the signals; and

(iii) software and stored data, and

(iv) (except for the purposes of sections 125 to 127) other resources, including network elements which are not active.'

For fixed lines, this means either electrical energy in standard conducting cables, or wires and electro-magnetic energy for coaxial cables, which can be considered to be a form of waveguide, or light photons for the laser light