Net Neutrality: EU forces telecoms to disclose 'real' internet connection speeds

European Commissioner Neelie Kroes on Tuesday said that the European Commission proposes more stringent rules for telecom operators and internet providers that will force companies to disclose the 'real'' connection speeds for the internet connections they provide and that will allow consumers to change providers while keeping their phone numbers. The Commission is today releasing a report on net neutrality that underlines the right of citizens and businesses to have easy access to an open and neutral internet, just one month before the new EU telecoms rules are due to come into force in all Member States on 25 May.

The key points about the new rules concern transparency, quality of service and the ability to switch operator.

Together with national telecoms regulators, the Commission will spend 2011 closely looking at current market practices. At the end of 2011, Neelie Kroes will present the findings and will publicly name operators engaging in doubtful practices. She will be looking particularly closely for any instances of unannounced blocking or throttling of certain types of traffic, and any misleading advertising of broadband speeds.