This puts online services -for example, companies or NGOs that provide videos, audio or web sites with texts -before choosing: either online services pay online telekom services so that their data freely accounts for users: Inside. Or they were in danger that their content would be postponed or sharply.
“This is harmful to especially small companies, startups and non-profit organizations that the fee for telecom cannot afford,” criticizes the Stanford professor Barbaru Van Shevik, one of the applicants: inside.
The argument is based on the regulation of the EU, which fixes the principle of network neutrality. This means: network suppliers, such as Telekom or Vodafone, should relate to all data packages that are sent to the Internet. You should not prefer the type of data such as video data or disadvantages, and not individual services.
The federal network agency is responsible for supervision of observing network neutrality in Germany. In the past, he already forbade proposals, for example, with a zero rating. For example, a network provider provides its own video service, the use of which is not taken into account in the amount of data. Other Video Suppliers will then be a shortage.
Two -class Internet
In addition to Shevik, Bundesverband (VZBV), the Society for Freedom Rights and the Austrian organization Epicenter.works are included in the procedure. You accuse Telekom of creating a two -year Internet: financially strong suppliers can ensure the quick conduct of your content. Small suppliers, whether it is companies, institutions or NGOs that could not or did not want to make such payments, should expect a slowdown in their content.
“Thanks to its business practice, Deutsche Telekom creates artificial narrow places at the entrances to his network,” criticizes Lina Erig, digital expert in VZBV. Users – victims: inside. “When the films come up with streaming platforms, the parties slowly load or cannot be caused at all, this is often not clear for consumers: what is the reason for this,” says Erig. The fact that your own Internet provider deliberately creates these problems in order to earn money.
The telecom contradicts
According to the complaint, Telekom is the only network supplier in Germany with such a business policy. Other suppliers would expand their access to the network if narrow places are created – without the requirement of money from content suppliers.
According to the press secretary, Telekom contradicts the accusations: Telekom does not violate network neutrality, and also does not slow down network traffic. Therefore, an overview of the federal network agency is observed calmly. According to its own statements, the body has already received complaints on this issue. Now all of them will be taken into account in the general look.