{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/telecommunications-act-1984/section-27L",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/telecommunications-act-1984/section-27L.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1984/12",
  "legislation_title": "Telecommunications Act 1984",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/telecommunications-act-1984",
  "path": "section/27L",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "27L",
  "heading": "Definitions for sections 27A to 27K.",
  "text": "(1) For the purposes of sections 27A to 27K above—\n“designated operator” means any public telecommunications operator designated for the purposes of those sections by order made by the Secretary of State; and\n“relevant services” means—\n(a)any voice telephony service, telephone rental service, directory service, directory information service or facsimile transmission service provided for occupiers of residential or single line premises; and\n(b)any public call box service.\n(2) The Secretary of State shall not exercise his power under subsection (1) above to designate a telecommunications operator unless he is satisfied that the operator provides at least 25 per cent. of the voice telephony services supplied within the area in relation to which he is a public telecommunications operator.\n(3) For the purposes of this section—\n“public call box service” means a service which is provided by a designated operator and which consists of the provision of telecommunication apparatus which—\n(a)is owned and operated by the designated operator;\n(b)gives access to a voice telephony service; and\n(c)is intended for use by members of the public generally;\n“directory service” means a service which consists of the preparation and provision of a list (which may be made available in separate parts and through different media) of customers of a designated operator which is not arranged by reference to a description of the trades, professions or businesses carried on by those customers;\n“directory information service” has the same meaning as in section 4(3) above;\n“facsimile transmission service” means a telecommunication service for the transmission of electronic signals by a designated operator, over exchange lines provided by him, for the purposes of making a facsimile of a document;\n“hard wired telephone” means a telephone of a kind which can only be connected to a public telecommunication system by means other than—\n(a)the insertion of a plug into a socket; or\n(b)wireless telegraphy;\n“single line premises” means premises which are not residential premises but which are served by a single exchange line provided by the designated operator;\n“telephone rental service” means a service consisting in the hiring out of any hard wired telephone which is capable of emitting or receiving signals which have been, or are to be, conveyed by means of a public telecommunication system run by a designated operator;\n“voice telephony service” means a telecommunication service for the conveyance of speech over exchange lines provided by the designated operator.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 27L inserted (1.7.1992) by Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (c. 43), s. 10; Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1992, art. 3, Sch. Pt. I"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Ss. 27A-27L repealed (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 otherwise) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 147(e), 406, 408, 411, Sch. 19(1) (with Sch. 18, Sch. 19(1) Notes 1, 5); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2) (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with art. 11)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/12/section/27L",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:04:22.261665+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}