Net neutrality: the Netherlands go first in Europe
A week or two ago Dutch telecoms tried to boo hoo hoo their way into charging clients for using mobile apps such as WhatsApp (text messaging) and Skype (VoiP) off which they can’t make money because they bypass their mobile serivces. Not only did users tell them where to go, but the government nipped that in the bud in its soon to be adopted Telecoms Act.
The final vote on the new Telecoms Act will take place next Tuesday, but is considered a formality. The Dutch Parliament has agreed to make the Netherlands the first nation in Europe to officially put net neutrality principles into law. The law will force ISPs and telecom operators to ensure access to all types of content, services or applications available on the network.
True to stubborn Dutch form, Vodafone NL (my provider) is currently still blocking the use of Skype on its 3G mobile network. Let’s see how long that lasts.
Chile was the first country in the world to adopt net neutrality last year.
(Link: theregister.co.uk)
[…] order to provide better quality Wi-Fi in some of their trains. Even though the Wi-Fi is free, the net neutrality law force ISPs and telecom operators to ensure access to all types of content, services or applications […]