NACE 61.9 – Other Telecommunications Activities | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 61.9 is the residual category of the telecommunications division and covers all telecommunications services that do not fall under wired (61.1), wireless (61.2) or satellite communications (61.3) — including internet services, resale of telecommunications capacity and converged communications solutions.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 61.9 cover?

NACE 61.9 (Other telecommunications activities) classifies companies whose telecommunications activities cannot be unambiguously assigned to one of the more specific groups 61.1 to 61.3 — a residual category of practical relevance, comprising internet service providers, resellers and converged providers.

Group 61.9 covers in particular the following activities:

In public procurement, NACE 61.9 is frequently the appropriate classification for providers of Unified Communications, managed communication services and pure internet service providers that do not operate their own network.

Public Tenders: Sector NACE 61.9

Other telecommunications services are a broad tendering segment — from Unified Communications platforms for authorities through to specialised communications solutions for the public sector.

Typical types of contract

• Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS): Integrated communications platforms (voice, video, chat, collaboration) for authorities and public institutions
• Internet Service Provider services: Provision of internet access for public institutions by resellers or virtual network operators
• Managed Communication Services: Fully operated and managed communications solutions without the contracting authority having its own network
• Conference and video conference services: Platforms for government video conferencing and virtual meetings (Microsoft Teams, Webex, Zoom for Government)
• Telecommunications platform services: CPaaS (Communication Platform as a Service) for government applications
• Telecommunications resale: Framework agreements via telecoms resellers for smaller authorities

Thresholds and procedure types

Different procedures apply depending on the contract volume. Small ISP contracts for municipalities frequently remain below the EU thresholds and can be tendered nationally. Larger UCaaS platforms for federal authorities exceed the thresholds (EUR 221,000 for central authorities) and require EU-wide publication, typically in the open procedure or as a framework agreement.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 61.9

CPV codes for other telecommunications are broadly spread — relevant tenders can be found under communications, network and IT service codes.

Current tenders can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily), Germany's procurement marketplace as well as on national procurement portals.

Who is NACE 61.9 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

NACE 61.9 is relevant for almost all public bodies that procure communication services without necessarily requiring their own network infrastructure:

• Federal authorities: Procurement of UCaaS and managed communication services for the federal administration
• Municipalities: ISP services and converged communications for smaller administrative units
• Educational institutions: Platform services for video conferencing and digital teaching
• Healthcare institutions: Secure communication services for clinical operations
• Central purchasing bodies: Bundling of telecoms procurement via framework agreements

Companies and bidders

The market structure in NACE 61.9 is heterogeneous — alongside large integrated providers, there are many specialised niche players:

• Virtual network operators (MVNOs and similar): Use wholesale services of large network operators and market their own products to the public sector
• UCaaS specialists: Providers of integrated communications platforms, often with a focus on the public sector
• System integrators: Companies that bundle telecoms services from various providers into integrated solutions
• Cloud providers: Hyperscalers and specialised government cloud providers with communications modules

Important for bidders: in public tenders, data protection requirements (GDPR, German data protection law) and data localisation requirements (processing in Germany/EU) are frequently key award criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 61.9 and public tenders

Which companies are typically classified under NACE 61.9? Internet service providers without their own network (ISP resellers), providers of Unified Communications platforms as well as companies offering converged telecommunications solutions frequently fall under NACE 61.9.

Are cloud communication services such as Microsoft Teams classified under NACE 61.9? Yes — the operation and provision of cloud-based communications platforms (UCaaS) such as Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex or similar services is typically assigned to NACE 61.9, provided no own telecommunications network is operated.

How do I find tenders for Unified Communications? Search on TED with CPV codes such as 72400000 (internet services) or 64200000 (telecommunications services) combined with the keyword "Unified Communications" or "UCaaS". National platforms such as DTVP or the Austrian federal tender portal also offer filtering options.

Are data protection requirements binding in telecoms tenders? Yes — when procuring communications services for authorities, GDPR compliance and, where applicable, more far-reaching national data protection requirements are mandatory. Providers must produce corresponding evidence (DPIA, data processing agreement, EU server location).

NACE 61.9 in context: Section J and Division 61

• NACE J – Information and Communication: Parent section with all ICT activities
• NACE 61 – Telecommunications: Division with all telecommunications services
• NACE 61.1 – Wired telecommunications activities: Fixed line, fibre, broadband
• NACE 61.2 – Wireless telecommunications activities: Mobile communications and Wi-Fi infrastructure
• NACE 61.3 – Satellite telecommunications activities: Satellite services and infrastructure
• NACE 62.0 – Computer programming, consultancy and related activities: Software development and IT consultancy

Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.