Mobile providers face clampdown over free calls
Slow internet speeds, blocking sites such as VOIP (voice over internet protocol) and delaying delivery of emails must stop, the European Commission is expected to warn tomorrow.
The net must remain neutral and open to all consumers and practices where citizens and businesses are manipulated by unfair competition practices will be outlawed if necessary, the digital agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes is expected to say.
New EU telecoms rules will apply from May 25 that try to ensure for instance that broadband connections are as fast as the service provider advertises. They also want to ensure that customers can change their service provider without any difficulty within a day and can retain the same number.
And they want to ensure an open and neutral internet by making sure that the practices of blocking, or throttling, internet traffic does not happen.
This happens when service providers — especially mobile internet operators — try to limit services such as voice over internet like Skype or video streaming or even certain internet sites, to protect their own competing services.
Member states regulators with the European Commission are expected to monitor the implementation of the rules, and produce a report at the year end.
Under the new regulations, regulators will be able to set minimum quality levels for service and ensure that customers know about any restrictions on access to particular services being imposed by providers.
The Commission is currently investigating allegations that the world’s largest search engine, Google has manipulated its service to ensure the names of its rivals do not show up in searches. Google provides 90% of Europe’s internet searches.
The US government is also considering looking into claims that the top four internet companies, including Google, are using their dominance of the net to exclude any competitors.
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