The Netherlands Consumer and Market Authority (ACM) has green-flagged T-Mobile’s blocking of video and music streaming on the WiFi amenity it provides to Holland’s national train operator, NS.
The Netherlands, of course, was the first EU country to introduce a net neutrality law in 2012 following a kerfuffle over KPN Mobile attempting to surcharge its WhatsApp users for using that service and not its own - a clear case of discrimination.
The ACM has decided that under the subsequent act, T-Mobile, which provides the facility, is allowed to restrict streaming usage on trains to ‘prevent traffic jams’: a traffic management move allowed for by this law, rather than a blocking or throttling move motivated by a desire to discriminate against particular content providers.
“By blocking these ‘data-hungry’ services, you can make it so as many travelers as possible make use of the internet, ” said the ACM said in a press release.
Email Newsletters
Stay up to date with the latest industry developments: sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox – including our daily news briefing and weekly wrap.
