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EU's Digital Infrastructure Plan Sparks Concern Over Network Fees

The EU's plan for digital infrastructure could bring back network usage fees. Critics worry about higher costs and less competition. Have your say before June 30.

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In this image we can see the information board, buildings, shed, trees, electric cables and sky...
In this image we can see the information board, buildings, shed, trees, electric cables and sky with clouds.

EU's Digital Infrastructure Plan Sparks Concern Over Network Fees

The European Commission's recent White Paper on Europe's digital infrastructure has sparked concern. It appears to ignore previous responses to consultations, potentially reviving the contentious issue of network usage fees. The paper also suggests a 'level playing field' for telcos and cloud providers, a move deemed flawed and unjustified by critics.

The White Paper's proposal to extend the European Electronic Communications Network directive to cloud providers could open the door to network usage fees, increasing costs for consumers and businesses. This could stifle competition, as each approach to impose such fees would have the same effect. Furthermore, the paper considers regulatory intervention on the IP interconnection market, which could also lead to these fees.

The Director General of DG CNECT, Kerstin Jorna, intervened at the BEREC Stakeholder Forum in late March, indicating the Commission's serious consideration of these proposals. However, the White Paper fails to present a clear vision for the telecoms sector, leaving stakeholders puzzled about its actual goals. It references spectrum, satellites, telecoms consolidation, and the white market, but provides little clarity on how these elements fit together.

All stakeholders are urged to participate in the ongoing open consultation, which closes on the 30th of June 2024. This is a crucial opportunity to prevent the introduction of detrimental proposals and ensure the White Paper leads to positive solutions for Europe's telecom and digital market. The Commission continues to consider introducing internet network usage fees, making stakeholder engagement more important than ever.

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