Net neutrality

11.11.2015

Question for written answer P-014653-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Pascal Arimont (PPE)

The legislative act adopted by the European Parliament concerning a European single market for electronic communications (TSM) is intended, inter alia, to guarantee access to an open Internet, commonly referred to as ‘net neutrality’.

The new legislative act requires providers of Internet access services to treat all Internet traffic equally as a matter of principle, without discrimination, restriction or interruption, irrespective of the applications or services being used or provided. Nonetheless, the act stipulates that Internet service providers may offer special services — such as healthcare applications — but only on condition that they do not affect the general quality of the Internet.

However, in view of the statements made by the Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Telekom AG, Timotheus Höttges, on 28 October 2015 regarding certain special services which could be conveyed over the Internet more quickly, there is a danger that the principle of net neutrality will now be rendered meaningless. Above all, according to statements by Deutsche Telekom AG, after an appropriate additional payment has been made, start-ups should be able to provide their special services — such as videoconferencing or online gaming — more quickly and/or better.

Such payment of larger amounts for a quicker Internet would de facto create a two-class Internet, in which only affluent users could secure higher speeds.

How will the Commission ensure that the rules on net neutrality are complied with and not misused? Does the case cited, if it comes to fruition, constitute an abuse of the open Internet and an infringement of the TSM Regulation?