Another day, another potential nail in Google’s coffin is revealed. EU telecommunication companies apparently want the tech giant to start paying for the broadband it uses in Europe.
According to CNBC, EU regulators could be pressured into charging companies like Google for the traffic. If telecom companies are the ones servicing and installing the backbone Google uses, it only makes sense that the Big G pays for the usage. However, Google isn’t the only company the telecom providers are targeting.
Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Netflix are all pushing data through copper and fiber networks, and the fees would help businesses like Deutsche Telekom improve and innovate existing systems. Of course, this isn’t being met with open arms by those who would pay the “tax.”
Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters believes the alluded-to fees would adversely affect customers. He may be right. If Netflix and Amazon were suddenly asked to pay by gigabits or terabits used, these fees would be passed on to the consumers using said companies’ services.
Or, adversely, the telecom companies will start raising their rates in order to account for the needed improvements to the infrastructure. If Google doesn’t pay, the customers will.
Category cable isn’t getting any cheaper. The same can be said for fiber spools until we hit a major recession. CAT6 and CAT6a cable has shot up considerably over the past nine months, with distributors sending out bulletins announcing the price increases every few weeks.
The rising prices are across the board when it comes to technology. The compounded issues of the chip shortage, labor shortage, and the pandemic left many companies scrambling to cover a fraction of backorders. In the end, the cost gets funneled along to us, the customer base.
However, some people think the entire issue could be solved by retooling the EU’s regulations. The European Commission’s head of internal markets, Thierry Brenton, believes “the imbalance is not down to Big Tech, it’s not down to streamers, and it’s not down to telcos. It’s down largely to the old, out-of-date regulatory environment.”
Something has to give, but how long will the red tape keep consumers from seeing improvements across the board? Will Google and the others push back? Let us know your thoughts below.
[Source: CNBC]ClownfishTV.com strives to be an apolitical, balanced and based pop culture news outlet. However, our contributors are entitled to their individual opinions. Author opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of our video hosts, other site contributors, site editors, affiliates, sponsors or advertisers. This website contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. We disclaim products or services we have received for review purposes, as well as sponsored posts.
