LIRNEasia » European Parliament

Net neutrality can raise broadband prices

Chanuka Wattegama — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:42:38 +0000

Broadband prices could rise by up to one-third if regulators in Europe insist on strict “net neutrality” rules that would block carriers from charging content providers premium prices to prioritise certain web traffic, a leading think-tank is set to warn.

Net neutrality has become a big issue in the US as internet congestion has increased. In Europe, regulators and industry players have claimed that the situation is different because users have more choice of network providers, and the debate has been more muted.

However, there have been growing concern among big telecoms companies that changes introduced in the European Parliament into the so-called telecoms package – the sweeping legislation which is designed to overhaul European Union telecoms laws – could open doors to net neutrality regulation in the future.

Read the full story in ‘Financial Times’ here.

European Union to slash mobile charges

Chanuka Wattegama — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:47:36 +0000

Proposals to slash the cost of using mobile phones abroad, for text, data and voice calls, could become law next July following a vote in Brussels.

The European Parliament is to vote on whether roaming costs for text messages should be capped.

The cost of sending a message is expected to eventually fall by 60% from an average of 23 pence to 9 pence.

Voice calls would fall from 36 to 27 pence a minute and customers would be able to set limits on data downloads.

A reluctant mobile phone industry first had limits on its roaming charges imposed by the EU in September 2007.

However, those applied only to voice calls, not those for texting or browsing the internet.

Mobile phone companies were limited to charging a maximum of around 34 pence a minute for making calls, and 17 pence to receive a call.

This is now set to be cut again, if EU Commissioner for telecommunications Viviane Reding’s plans go through.

Customers downloading data would then be able to set a maximum cost level before their service cuts out.

Read the fully story in BBC here.

EU sets out new strategy for a single European telecom market

Chanuka Wattegama — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:17:08 +0000

A single European Union-wide telecoms market could be in place from 2010 after the European Commission set out plans to increase competition. Under the new plans, a regional watchdog would be created and former monopolies could be forced to split up their network and services operations.

The planned changes are designed to offer consumers cheaper broadband services and phone calls from fixed line and mobile handsets, the Commission also argues. It claims that consumers are currently losing out because in many member countries, including Poland, Italy and Germany, the former state telecoms monopolies still dominate, particularly in the broadband market.

The proposals will now be debated in the European Parliament.

However, analysts said there is likely to be opposition to the changes with Germany and Spain seen as critics.

Read the full story in BBC News

Sri Lanka villages can be evacuated in 2 minutes

Rohan Samarajiva — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 06:54:33 +0000

European Parliament – News – Headlines – Article – Post Tsunami reconstruction – triumph or tragedy?

Mr Jayantha Samarasinghe of the Sri Lanka reconstruction agency told MEPs of how reconstruction efforts were proceeding. Among the figures he cited were that 134 of the 183 damaged schools were back in action, 80 railway bridges had been rebuilt and 75% of the fishing sector had been restored.In terms of early warning he said that the Dutch government had donated 50 Tsunami early warning towers. He also said that villages in coastal regions in danger of flooding had all worked out “escape routes” to higher ground. He said that if enough time was given then villages could be evacuated in 2 minutes.

Finally, it looks like the warning towers that were supposed to have been installed by the second anniversary have been negotiated. I guess the reason the audience did not burst out in laughter was because they do not know what it takes to evacuate a village.

Mobile roaming, or the art of gouging someone else’s customer

Rohan Samarajiva — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:33:24 +0000

In the old days, telecom operators gouged each other’s customers through excessive termination charges (settlements) for international calls. That went the way of the dodo with bypass and calling cards. Then they came up with the idea of gouging the customers of other operators foolish enough to use roaming facilities. Now the EU is trying to tamp it down, at least for its own citizens:

“The price of using a mobile phone in another EU country could be capped at 50 cents ($0.66; 34p) a minute. EU telecoms ministers agreed in principle to the limit at an informal meeting on the sidelines of the CeBIT hi-tech fair in Hanover. The European Parliament will debate the issue in May and ministers are understood to want the new law to come into effect at the beginning of July.” more

Will this lead to even more vicious gouging of non-EU citizens? A good case for benchmark regulation and transparency, one thinks.