Historic agreement on net neutrality

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The Norwegian Internet industry, the Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority, the Consumer Council of Norway and the Consumer Ombudsman have agreed joint guidelines for net neutrality. "A historic moment,” is the Consumer Council of Norway’s verdict.

Øyvind Herseth Kaldestad Kommunikasjonsrådgiver forbrukerpolitikk, 25.02.2009 16:02

“Having a common interpretation and implementation of net neutrality helps create an open Internet, where a range of service providers can compete freely to supply content and services,” says Thomas Nortvedt at the Consumer Council of Norway.

The principle of net neutrality involves companies that handle Internet traffic treating all content equally, without limits or restrictions on individual services or service providers.

“It must be up to individual broadband customers to decide how to use their bandwidth. The quality of the content must not be affected by the Internet service provider’s agreements, preferences, financial interests or other concerns,” says Thomas Nortvedt.

The organisations that have now signed up to the principles of net neutrality are the Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority, Telenor, Get, Lyse Tele, Telio Telecom, ICT Norway, the Norwegian Media Businesses' Association, Schibsted, the Consumer Council of Norway and the Consumer Ombudsman.

Credit to the industry

“The industry participants have shown a great willingness to set out their position on this matter. We now expect other Internet service providers to follow in their footsteps by promising customers to treat all Internet traffic in a neutral manner,” says Thomas Nortvedt.

There have to date been few known examples of Norwegian broadband providers giving priority to content that they are paid to distribute. The most controversial case was NextGenTel’s attempt to limit the bandwidth of users of NRK’s IPTV service in the summer of 2006.

Nevertheless, the Consumer Council of Norway considers it important to be ahead of the curve on this matter, in view of both the situation in other countries and the fact that the distinction between Internet service and content providers is fast disappearing.

“With Internet service providers offering their own content and services in competition with other content providers, it is very important to have a set of basic rules that ensure equal access and quality of service,” says Thomas Nortvedt.

“We cannot risk getting into a situation where Internet service providers give priority to their own IP telephony or IPTV services, say, making it difficult for other content providers to offer an equivalent, high quality service.”

The network neutrality guidelines are based on three principles:

1. Internet users are entitled to an Internet connection with a predefined capacity and quality.

2. Internet users are entitled to an Internet connection that enables them to - send and receive content of their choice - use services and run applications of their choice - connect hardware and use software of their choice that do not harm the network.

3. Internet users are entitled to an Internet connection that is free of discrimination with regard to type of application, service or content or based on sender or receiver

For more information, please contact Thomas Nortvedt, (0047) 93620450.

“It must be up to individual broadband customers to decide how to use their bandwidth. The quality of the content must not be affected by the Internet service provider’s agreements, preferences, financial interests or other concerns,” says Thomas Nortvedt. (Foto: Knut Falch)