It sees insufficient evidence to support ‘fair-share’ charging of Big Tech platforms
The UK’s telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has issued revised guidance on how ‘net neutrality’ rules should apply in the UK. The rationale is that much has changed online since the current rules were put in place in 2016. According to Ofcom, they include surges in demand for capacity due to video streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, and the roll-out of 5G.
Ofcom carried out a review “to ensure net neutrality continues to serve everyone’s interests,” its press statement read.
Stifling innovation?
Selina Chadha, Ofcom’s Director of Connectivity, said, “The net neutrality rules are designed to constrain the activities of broadband and mobile providers, however, they could also be restricting their ability to develop new services and manage their networks efficiently.
“We want to make sure they can also innovate, alongside those developing new content and services, and protect their networks when traffic levels might push networks to their limits. We believe consumers will benefit from all providers across the internet innovating and delivering services that better meet their needs.”
Now broadband and mobile providers can:
- offer premium quality retail broadband or mobile packages for applications like gaming which need low latency;
- develop specialised services to support applications like remote surgery and driverless cars;
- use traffic management to avoid network congestion at peak times; and
- offer ‘zero-rating’ packages in most circumstances – not charging users for accessing certain content or services such as online public health advice provided by the NHS.
No need for fair-share?
Ofcom also set out its views on the possibility of allowing broadband and mobile providers to charge content providers for carrying their traffic. It concluded, “We have not seen sufficient evidence that this is needed, although this would require a change to the rules and therefore be a matter for Government and Parliament”.
Interestingly, Ofcom does not appear to have noted the inexorable rise in user-generated video on social media platforms, which research by Rethink TV thinks will have a profound impact on networks between now and 2028.