1. The European Response to
Network Neutrality in the Context
of the Electronic Communications
Reform
Liyang Hou
IBBT – ICRI – KUL
E2E-QoE Final Workshop
IMEC, 26/01/2009
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2. “I will take a backseat to no one in my commitment
to network neutrality. The Internet is the most open
network in history. We have to keep it that way.”
----- Barack Obama
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“A truly open digital economy based on interoperable
networks and inclusive access to the internet is of crucial
importance.”
----- Viviane Reding
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3. What is Network Neutrality?
A neutral network means that all the data are transmitted
on the Internet in the same way.
However, in case of congestion, there is NO guarantee
of quality of experience.
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4. What is Network Neutrality?
The idea of a non-neutral network thus appears.
A technology, i.e. traffic shaping, can make different data
to be transmitted in different ways and thus offer
guaranteed quality of experience.
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What is Network Neutrality?
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5. What is Network Neutrality?
However, Traffic shaping
on the one hand challenges the long standing principle
of end-to-end connectivity/first-come-first-served, as
well as the technologies developed based upon this
principle, e.g. the results of our project.
On the other hand can potentially allow network
operators to disfavour data from unaffiliated
companies.
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Our Research Question
The whole debate on network neutrality focuses on the
possibility of discrimination by network operators.
Our research circumvents this discussion.
Our Main Research Question is whether the European
legal framework can apply if discrimination actually takes
place.
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6. CASE 1
Blocking
End-users 1
VoIP A
BP End-users 2
VoIP B
End-users 3
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CASE 2
Discriminatory Degradation
End-users 1
VoIP A
BP End-users 2
VoIP B
End-users 3
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7. CASE 3
End-users 1
VoIP A
BP End-users 2
VoIP B
End-users 3
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CASE 3
General Degradation
End-users 1
VoIP A
BP End-users 2
VoIP B
End-users 3
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8. The Legal Reform
The current Regulatory Framework in the electronic
communications sector is under review;
Network neutrality issues are paid with great attention in
this review process;
The legislative proposals are expected to be adopted
before 2010
b f 2010.
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Case 3
Regulatory authorities can set up a minimum level of
quality of service. Network operators are not allowed to
degrade the transmission service below this level.
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9. CASE 4
End-users 1
VoIP A
BP End-users 2
VoIP B
End-users 3
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10. CASE 4
Reserving prioritising services
End-users 1
VoIP A
BP End-users 2
VoIP B
End-users 3
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Case 4
Since traffic shaping has not been widely exploited by the
broadband industry, it is difficult to make a decision now.
Therefore, it is proposed that regulatory authorities should
closely monitor the development and take action when
necessary.
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11. CASE 5
Restrictions on applications or terminal
equipments
Kotnet ME
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Case 5
Network operators should make the public informed of any
restriction on running applications or using terminal
equipments on their networks.
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12. Our conclusions
Network neutrality does raise a set of problems, though
potential, that can not be dealt with under the existing
rules;
Nevertheless, the undergoing proposals can, on the one
hand, strike a good balance between the economic
benefits and the risks of the non-neutral network; and on
the other hand appropriately deal with those potential
hand,
network neutrality problems.
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Q&A
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