mobileu.co.uk

Net neutrality decision provokes wireless debate

Barack Obama is among those who have welcomed plans to protect the neutrality of the internet in the US.

The president praised action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prevent wireless carriers from blocking particular types of traffic moving through their networks.

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski announced in a speech in Washington this week that internet service providers will be barred from slowing down or blocking streamed video, music or other content that uses up a lot of bandwidth.

He pointed out that safeguarding a "free and open internet" is vital.

"The internet is an extraordinary platform for innovation, job creation, investment and opportunity," he continued.

"It has unleashed the potential of entrepreneurs and enabled the launch and growth of small businesses across America."

While organisations including Skype and Google have greeted the news positively, mobile phone operators have been less approving.

Representatives for Verizon claimed the plans will limit consumer choices and "affect content providers, application developers, device manufacturers and network builders".

However, research analyst Criag Moffett maintains the risk to telecoms firms is that they will not be able to stop customers from using free voice and text services like Skype and Google Voice.