Artificial intelligence, virtual reality and cloud services – data-hungry technologies are becoming more and more popular in everyday life. So gigabit networks are needed. But who pays for the costs?
Less bureaucracy, easier approval: The EU Commission wants to push ahead with the expansion of gigabit networks. EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton pointed out in Brussels on Thursday that we were experiencing a period of technological upheaval. It must be ensured that everyone in the EU has access to fast internet.
In view of the increasing use of data-hungry technologies such as cloud services, artificial intelligence and virtual reality, the EU Commission therefore proposed a gigabit infrastructure law, which EU states and the European Parliament must now negotiate. Among other things, this also stipulates that all new buildings and all existing buildings must be equipped with fiber optics during major renovation work. According to the plans of the EU Commission, all EU citizens should be covered with gigabit internet and fast mobile communications by 2030.
Who pays the costs?
Breton expressly referred to the high costs that arise from the network expansion. The EU Commission therefore launched a public consultation on Thursday, one of which is about who should pay for these costs. It is highly controversial whether providers of particularly data-hungry services such as streaming portals should pay for it.
Breton emphasized the data consumption of streaming services on Thursday. However, he did not want to commit himself to whether they should therefore pay for the network expansion. First of all, the public survey, which runs until May 19, should be awaited. In a statement, however, the Frenchman said at least that they are also looking into “whether the platforms should share the cost of investing in next-generation connectivity with telecom operators.”
Net neutrality at risk?
Critics see this endangering net neutrality, i.e. the principle according to which all data should flow through the network equally – regardless of where they come from, what type of data they are and what their content is. Breton emphasized on Thursday that net neutrality is a key principle. SPD MEP Tiemo Wölken nevertheless criticized the fact that the commissioner had only paid lip service to net neutrality “despite some massive criticism, especially from civil society”. He did not dispel the concerns. Breton rejected any digital tax.
From the ranks of the platforms, the idea of a payment to the network operator is criticized. For example, the YouTube parent company Google points out that the online offerings are the reason for the demand for fast Internet connections in the first place. And these companies would also have invested a lot of money in the production of content, the development of technology and their own lines. The network operators would not have participated in these investments either.
Source: Stern
