ISPs split in UK over full and open access agreement
25 Jul 2012
A number of leading internet service providers in the UK have refused to sign a code of conduct designed to guarantee "full and open access" to the net.
The agreement received the support of 10 ISPs, including BT, O2 and Talktalk. The agreement promises not to restrict or block content unless there was a reason to deploy "reasonable traffic management practices".
However, according to Virgin Media, the principles set out were too vague while Vodafone described the code as "impractical". Everything everywhere preferred to opt out.
The Open Internet Code of Practice comes on top of an earlier traffic management agreement, which was agreed to by the three that opted out and adds the following:
Promise of open and full access to the net across their range of products by the ISPs.
Firms would not be able to market a subscription package as including "internet access", if certain kinds of legal content or services were barred.
Members barred from targeting and degrading content or applications offered by a specific rival.