Europe’s NRAs Investigate Traffic Management Practices

Europe’s national regulators are to launch the first pan-European investigation into telecoms companies’ controversial data traffic management practices, in an attempt to safeguard so-called net neutrality principles, the Financial Times reports (registration required).

The NRAs will scrutinize whether fixed-line phone and mobile operators are giving consumers enough information about their traffic management policies, which can slow down customers’ internet connections.

INTUG welcomes the action by EU regulators to investigate traffic management activities by network service providers. The issue of network neutrality is of great concern to business users who depend on open access to content and applications without risk of blocking or non-transparent discrimination.
Nick White, INTUG’s Executive Vice President said,

“Business users must be able to rely on uninterrupted use of on-line processes between supply chain partners and between suppliers and customers. The action of one network service provider in the chain must not be allowed to interfere with ongoing business in an unpredictable way. Differentiation of traffic in justified circumstances is acceptable, provided the rules are declared in advance and are transparent to all stakeholders. This needs clear and consistent rules for classifying applications and content, and for transparency in traffic management activities.”

INTUG’s submission to the consultation on network neutrality is available here.
The European Commission will unveil proposals to foster a neutral and competitive Internet today.
Source: Financial Times, INTUG, EurActiv