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BackOn Thursday, the vote on the European Internal Market for telecom services took place in the plenum of the European Parliament. This concerned among other also the so-called “network neutrality”. Hence, a landmark decision has been taken for the future of the (free) internet. Until now, it has been the case that consumers, depending on data volume and bandwidth could and had to decide between differently priced packages. However, all transmitted data was treated equally - this was to be changed in accordance with the wishes of the Commission and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).
Are all network users equal?
Network neutrality means that all data packages, no matter who sends them, who receives them or what they contain, are treated equal, therefore all enjoying the same speed, depending on the bandwidth available. The Proposal by the Commission on the “European Internal Market for Telecom Services” tried to abolish the network neutrality through the backdoor, a fact, which was only inadequately corrected by the Committee on Industry. Hence, there is a strong suspicion that internet providers should be provided with new income opportunities as compensation for any loss of roaming charges - the Proposal had also provided for the abolition of roaming charges.
The idea of the ITRE Report was that providers would be able to purchase preferential treatment for their websites and services, by concluding with internet providers exclusive contracts for better quality transmission. That means providers of certain services or contents pay network operators to have their offers or information transmitted at a particularly fast speed. Providers, which were unable to afford this, would be left standing. This would be a total departure from free internet and network neutrality - the fundamental principle of the “World Wide Web” (WWW). This would have far-reaching consequences: apart from disadvantaging smaller competitors, this approach would above all have a significant impact on the flow of information. Without network neutrality it would be a question of money, what kind of and in what quantities internet users could access information via the internet.
The AK has repeatedly warned against this “two-class internet” and its consequences. Consumers must be able to rely on internet data being transmitted without preferential or disadvantageous treatment of individual services by internet providers.
Free internet remains, roaming charges will be abolished
This vote, which might go down in the history of the internet, had been expected with great interest. The vote by the majority in the plenum of the European Parliament has followed the applications of the S&D and clearly decided in favour of network neutrality.
According to the wishes of the European Parliament, using a mobile and mobile surfing shall also be possible without extra charges.
Network neutrality means that all data packages, no matter who sends them, who receives them or what they contain, are treated equal, therefore all enjoying the same speed, depending on the bandwidth available. The Proposal by the Commission on the “European Internal Market for Telecom Services” tried to abolish the network neutrality through the backdoor, a fact, which was only inadequately corrected by the Committee on Industry. Hence, there is a strong suspicion that internet providers should be provided with new income opportunities as compensation for any loss of roaming charges - the Proposal had also provided for the abolition of roaming charges.
The idea of the ITRE Report was that providers would be able to purchase preferential treatment for their websites and services, by concluding with internet providers exclusive contracts for better quality transmission. That means providers of certain services or contents pay network operators to have their offers or information transmitted at a particularly fast speed. Providers, which were unable to afford this, would be left standing. This would be a total departure from free internet and network neutrality - the fundamental principle of the “World Wide Web” (WWW). This would have far-reaching consequences: apart from disadvantaging smaller competitors, this approach would above all have a significant impact on the flow of information. Without network neutrality it would be a question of money, what kind of and in what quantities internet users could access information via the internet.
The AK has repeatedly warned against this “two-class internet” and its consequences. Consumers must be able to rely on internet data being transmitted without preferential or disadvantageous treatment of individual services by internet providers.
Free internet remains, roaming charges will be abolished
This vote, which might go down in the history of the internet, had been expected with great interest. The vote by the majority in the plenum of the European Parliament has followed the applications of the S&D and clearly decided in favour of network neutrality.
According to the wishes of the European Parliament, using a mobile and mobile surfing shall also be possible without extra charges.