Post on 19-Jun-2015
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The European Response to Network Neutrality in the Context of the Electronic Communications
Reform
Liyang HouLiyang HouIBBT – ICRI – KUL
E2E-QoE Final Workshop IMEC, 26/01/2009
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“I will take a backseat to no one in my commitment to network neutrality. The Internet is the most opento 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 crucialnetworks and inclusive access to the internet is of crucial importance.”
----- Viviane Reding
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What is Network Neutrality?
A neutral network means that all the data are transmitted on the Internet in the same way.on the Internet in the same way.
However, in case of congestion, there is NO guarantee of quality of experience.
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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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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
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operators to disfavour data from unaffiliated companies.
Our Research Question
The whole debate on network neutrality focuses on the possibility of discrimination by network operators.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 l
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place.
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CASE 1
End-users 1Blocking
VoIP A
VoIP B
BP End-users 2
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End-users 3
CASE 2
End-users 1Discriminatory Degradation
VoIP A
VoIP B
BP End-users 2
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End-users 3
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CASE 3
End-users 1
VoIP A
VoIP B
BP End-users 2
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End-users 3
CASE 3
End-users 1General Degradation
VoIP A
VoIP B
BP End-users 2
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End-users 3
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The Legal Reform
The current Regulatory Framework in the electronic communications sector is under review;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 b f 2010
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before 2010.
Case 3
Regulatory authorities can set up a minimum level of quality of service. Network operators are not allowed toquality of service. Network operators are not allowed to degrade the transmission service below this level.
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CASE 4
End-users 1
VoIP A
VoIP B
BP End-users 2
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End-users 3
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CASE 4
End-users 1Reserving prioritising services
VoIP A
VoIP B
BP End-users 2
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End-users 3
Case 4
Since traffic shaping has not been widely exploited by the broadband industry, it is difficult to make a decision now.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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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 terminalrestriction on running applications or using terminal equipments on their networks.
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Our conclusions
Network neutrality does raise a set of problems, though potential, that can not be dealt with under the existingpotential, 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
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the other hand, appropriately deal with those potential network neutrality problems.
Q & A
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