August 31, 2022
A group of small telecoms operators known as MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) Europe have said that the proposal by EU regulators to make Google, Meta, and Netflix bear some costs of the bloc’s telecoms network would alter the market and harm competition.
MVNO participants include Comcast’s pay-TV company Sky, which has its own mobile service Freenet, and PosteMobile,
The caution underscores the potential consequences, while major telecommunications players such as Deutsche Telekom, Orange, and Telefonica also complained about tech competitors’ unfettered access to their networks. Their advocacy was rewarded when the European Commission announced earlier this year that it would introduce laws by the end of the year that would oblige tech rivals to contribute to network costs.
According to MVNO Europe’s website, the proposed contributions to network investment would seriously harm competition in telecoms markets, directly harm MVNOs and ultimately harm both consumers and business users. Digital activists have also raised concerns about the threat to European net neutrality rules, which advocate an open internet.
The sources for this piece include an article in Reuters.
