Ireland’s chief communications regulator John Doherty has been elected founding chairman of a new European body charged with deepening the co-ordination of telecoms and internet regulation throughout the EU.

Mr Doherty will chair the newly established Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications for one year. He will continue his work as chairman of the domestic agency ComReg while holding this part-time position.

The body is being set up as part of a move to stimulate competition in the sector.