Why the EU Wants Details of Big Tech, Telcos’ Investment Plans

The European Commission needs to ask Big Tech and European Union telecoms suppliers about their funding outlays and cloud infrastructure plans earlier than tabling laws that would make the previous pay for community prices, an individual conversant in the matter mentioned on Tuesday.

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, Telecom Italia, and the massive operators say such a transfer is all a couple of fair proportion contribution because the six largest content material suppliers account for simply over half of knowledge web visitors.

Google, Netflix, Meta, Amazon, and different tech giants say the thought quantities to an web visitors tax that would undermine Europe’s internet neutrality guidelines treating all customers equally.

The Commission plans to launch a public session with a prolonged questionnaire subsequent week, though the timing should still change, the particular person mentioned. It will probably final about 12 weeks earlier than the Commission drafts laws that EU nations and EU lawmakers might want to thrash out earlier than it could turn out to be regulation.

The Commission will ask Big Tech and telecoms what they’re investing in, how it will evolve and whether or not there may be an funding hole, the particular person mentioned.

They will likely be requested about their views on a shift into cloud infrastructure and the investments wanted for this as regulators need the talk to transcend spending on cables and towers.

Regulators additionally wish to know in regards to the relationship between Big Tech and telecom suppliers.

The Commission will ask session members in regards to the regulatory responses in different components of the world on community charges, reminiscent of in South Korea and Australia, and the teachings realized from these.

© Thomson Reuters 2023