Don’t you dare sabotage our pipeline!
European mobile operators are wasting their time asking Netflix, Twitter and Youtube and co to contribute towards their infrastructure costs, according to US-based analysts who have hinted that any regulation could prove retaliation.
Speaking at the FT Tech and Politics Forum on Tuesday Google’s European president told the audience that Google wants to deliver ‘great services’ to European users. “We want to continue to work with European telecom providers to help all internet users and businesses benefit from the open internet,” said Brittin, “the European Commission and others will continue to support open networks into the future.”
Opinion is divided among analysts. Laura Petrone, thematic analyst at GlobalData, said European telecoms view internet and data infrastructures as a public good, arguing that this means costs should be shouldered equally among benefitting companies. Petrone issued an ominous warning: openly moving against US-based tech giants on behalf of European firms could create political shockwaves that may have consequences. “There is a risk of such initiative to be perceived as digital protectionism, potentially straining relationships with the US,” said Petrone.
That won’t happen as the BIG Tech titans have ignored the EC effortlessly so far said another analyst. The debate has been going around in circles for a decade or more, according to Emma Mohr-McClune, service director of global consumer services, platforms and devices for research firm GlobalData, told Verdict. “I’m not sure anyone truly believes European carriers will be successful in getting Big Tech players to pay some sort of OTT traffic tax. Such a proposal would create a dangerous precedent for digital service providers everywhere, and would be met with a mighty legal defence.”