The European Union has started a discussion about how to provide the “enormous” improvements to internet capability that regional officials think are important for the bloc to use cutting-edge technologies like AI or immersive virtual worlds to its fullest potential while achieving the comprehensive digital transformation it is hoping will be a hallmark of the following decade – to both reach sustainability objectives and ensure the region’s financial wellbeing into the future.
What will be the cost of necessary infrastructure improvements and how will they affect the advancement of digital technology and web surfers’ access to the internet?
The Commission has not made a clear decision yet as to how to fund future infrastructure, but it seems that they are leaning towards accepting a proposal from telecom companies that suggests several major tech organizations – whose services cause the most internet and cellular traffic – should be the ones to provide funds for improvements.
People mostly talking about are Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, and Netflix.
A concern with the plan is deciding the limit to define a large consumer of traffic? Additionally, what could prevent the fees for ‘Big Bandwidth’ from affecting other parts of the system? These tech companies often give vital digital infrastructure to small businesses through cloud computing, mobile app stores, and other marketplaces.
The concept of service providers charging both consumers and 3rd party players for the use of their network has been a talking point in telephone industries for some time. But the Commission seems to have taken a liking to the idea, which opponents have denounced as just double charging.
At the beginning of February, Reuters revealed that Thierry Breton, the European Union’s Commissioner for the internal market, is slated to speak next week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, suggesting his approval of the telecoms’ proposition.
Announcing the announcement of the consultation, Breton tweeted a Netflix playlist-style meme that echoed the language of telecom agents – who were articulating their request for Big Tech to bear the costs of the network as a “fair share”.
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) February 23, 2023
Axelle Lemonnier Breton, the past CEO of France Telecom, is devoted to developing policy making relating to digital infrastructure and to ensure Europe’s data is up to date. His office is set to have him attend the MWC and he will present a keynote on Monday. Since he knows the EU has just shared its plans for the consultation, he will likely have something new to say at his talk. Carriers are wishing that Google and other similar organizations will give them the payment they have long been wanting when they interact with the consumers in Barcelona in the upcoming week.
He shared a message on social media recently leading to the European Union’s investigation on network base investment – which the Commission states they need to contemplate what the most suitable action will be in the upcoming electronic networks niche as the press release says it in a more unemotional way.
The European Union begins its network funding consultation by providing an explanation, stating that high-performance future mobile communications networks need extensive investments in fiber and an expansion of antennas. These developments will have an effect on the business model of electronic communication network providers and people in the market value chain. It is essential to think deeply about devising a reliable system of connectivity that is based on a sustainable model of revenue and can assist the EU’s digital initiatives in the long run.
This is a critical time to thoroughly analyze the connectivity industry and gauge its current status and future needs. The European Commission is initiating this inquest to explore what the future of the connectivity sector and connectivity infrastructure should be.
At the press conference earlier, Breton expressed the idea that advancements in tech associated with connectivity are causing more services to become active and consume lots of data, which is causing the infrastructure to need to evolve. According to him this calls for a unified governmental response to the situation and its effects on carriers’ revenue.
He indicated that major alterations were coming, which would require new perspectives on network technology. He also suggested that the layout of telecommunications networks would change drastically, turning them into platforms.
He paid superficial respect to the concept that improved services worked by Internet organizations are doing what’s needed for online users, and he immediately moved on to contemplating “what we refer to as the suitable part of the financing of the upcoming level of systems”—which was an intriguing moment to use a plural pronoun like ‘we’.
This meditation is not meant to be offensive to anyone – it’s for our fellow citizens everybody. We want to provide connection, progress and chances to our businesses and citizens. He spoke on in anticipation that the Commission would be blamed for having an anti-American strategy on technological matters, in the instance that the consultation yields a proposition from the EU for American tech businesses to finance upgrades to European networks.
Commissioner Breton brought attention to the fact that net neutrality is being regarded as a “key principle” of communication both presently and in the upcoming years.
Reviewers of the telecoms’ request that Web-based organizations pay depending on the fame of the help have again and again brought up the issue of dangers to equitably conveyance of administrations (and thus to a reasonable and open Internet), since some type of system utilization charge could support companies with more noteworthy assets to pay, including the individuals who can ingest additional costs rather than passing them on to their clients.
It is not yet explicitly known what the EU’s recommended network subsidies model will look like. The consultation document is expansive, featuring 60 questions that ask for in-depth answers and extra commentary. The European Commission offers a few possibilities, such as an EU-wide fund to promote inexpensive broadband or improved coverage in outlying areas, or charges from all digital service suppliers, or just a small group of “heavy data users”.
The subsection named “fair contribution by all digital players” is likely to bring joy to operators who are sure to welcome it. Reports say that the amount of transmitted information and the amount of info collected has surpassed earlier estimations and is expected to keep rising, considering that the use of international online activity has seen a growth of 34.4 percent annually since 2015. Furthermore, this is likely to be further added to with the quick move towards the metaverses and virtual worlds. The use of cutting-edge technologies on the web is becoming ever more apparent [although not necessarily with any actual data proving customer interest in metaverse/s and related technologies], which creates a “paradox” between the large amount of data stored on the systems and the supposedly decreasing willingness to spend money on networking infrastructure. This is generally seen as being favorable to telecoms firms…
The Commission then outlines the opposing view from content providers – that it would be “unjustified” to pay for using networks to deliver content, as network costs are not necessarily associated with the volume of traffic and could create risks for an open Internet. Other stakeholders are advised to take care not to rush in with any regulatory action. It is evident that there are various opinions on the type of intervention that may be required or if centralized control is even the best option now.
At the press conference, Breton refrained from revealing too much, commenting simply that the goal is to motivate investments in the digitalization of Africa and, if needed, devise fresh means of providing faster access to high capacity networks, noting that competition should be what encourages innovation.
The European Union’s survey on this issue will last for three months ending May 19th, 2023, and then the Commission says it will share its analysis. If the Commission decides to develop a plan, there is a firm time limit, as the present Commission leaves the office in 2024.
The GSMA, a telco operator association, told TechCrunch that they are unaware if the European Commission is leaning towards charging some sort of Big Tech tax to fund network upgrades. Additionally, they are also not sure how the idea would go over in the EU decision-making process should a legislative proposal be put forward.
However, the fact that Brussels was paying close attention to financial backing of the network was seen as a signal that they might be getting ready to intervene.
John Giusti, the GSMA’s chief regulatory officer, expressed that the European Commission’s initiative to open up a discussion about the existing digital marketplace was proof of its incredible leadership. He acknowledged that current circumstances are much different than before and that massive players have taken advantage of the situation without investing in various markets. What should we do in response to this?
Giusti informed TechCrunch that the stance of European service providers on financing networks backs an EU directive that would take on a plan initiated by legislators in Australia two years ago—where the nation ratified a deal on Google and Facebook that necessitated the platforms to negotiate with local news outlets over repayment for the reuse of their material, offering the peril of a binding arbitration process engaging in the event that licensing agreements fail to be concluded.
It is apparent that the European airline companies would prefer that the FAANG companies be legally obligated to negotiate payment agreements with them in a closed room.
I have no clue what the Commission’s final decision will be and no individual participant will ever get everything they wish for. We would prefer to see the EU put in place a regulation forcing those producing more than 5% of the year’s max internet traffic to come to the negotiating table and pay a fair amount to support the growth of network access and the funds needed for infrastructure investment in Europe. If a deal cannot be reached, then the existing framework with have to intervene and make a final decision on the offer.
But looking at the situation more broadly, isn’t this just the same longstanding complaint from telecommunications companies about companies that provide web-based services taking all the best parts for themselves, while leaving the telecommunications companies with the constant expenses of maintaining the wiring for others’ advantages; which some observers suggest, ignores the fundamental contrasts in technology (and culture) and disregards telecoms’ incapacity to exploit available openings to be innovative around their services, instead prioritizing gaining income from their own users using the existing structure?
The drastic shift in modern times has transformed a classic telecommunication grievance into a fair request looking ahead to the future. It appears that major service providers are pointing to the reality that significant market share warrants increased responsibility to build infrastructure. This idea suggests that being large entitles a service to its own tax. Should this gain public acceptance, it could be thanks to Big Tech’s existing reputation for its unfair competitive practices.
It seems that the great skills of the tech titans when it comes to moving profits and getting the most value from their sources are finally leading to problems for them in Europe.
The current situation in the market is that there is a huge disparity between large traffic producers and European companies. We are requesting the European Commission to intervene and correct this balance so that those producers earning the most from European consumers contribute to the investments made into European infrastructure. The essential point here is to make sure that there is a way to involve them in the discussion,” Giusti stated.
The main issue is that there is no motivation for the major traffic sources to take part in the conversation. Instead of creating more structures with more potential complications for those investing in Europe, let’s concentrate on resolving the problem that is already present. The service providers are funding the systems in reaction to the capacity due to these players; therefore, it would probably be the most beneficial. It would be most convenient and efficient if the major sites that generate the largest amount of traffic reached an accord with the European telecommunications companies – discussing what is appropriate and what kind of payment should be made for the increased traffic they cause.
