Netherlands Adopts Network Neutrality

Network neutrality is perhaps a concept unheard of, for most of us. But within the lines of Europe, a nation has adopted this concept which is poised to change the way internet is consumed in the country. With the adoption of network neutrality, Netherlands has become the first ever nation in Europe, and second in the world to do so.

Neutral..

Before the law took shape, network providers in the country, like KPN, the Dutch units of Vodafone and T-Mobile levied extra charges on customers who used internet services like Skype, or Whatsapp, and in some cases also blocked these internet services. With the new law in place, mobile telephone operators in the country will no longer be able to implement unwarranted restrictions on the usage of the internet. Although, a majority of the masses saw this as a welcome change, several analysts believed that in order to keep pace with the unrestricted usage of internet, mobile broadband charges could shoot up.

The law was embraced with a wide majority in the lower house of the Dutch Parliament.

Source: The New York Times