back to article EU needs a single telco regulator, says Google's top policy wonk

Europe needs a single telco regulator if over-the-top providers are to flourish across the continent, Google's public policy manager of EMEA, Theo Bertram, has said. Speaking at a Westminster Forum event Bertram said the long awaited update to European Telecommunications Framework must take into account OTTs, of which Google …

  1. adnim

    Mmmm

    "EU needs a single telco regulator, says Google's top policy wonk"

    Presumably one that can be bought just like the UK Inland revenue.

    1. I. Aproveofitspendingonspecificprojects

      All the blatter to zep them with NT

      Nobody cry wolf or Bernie Ferrari.

  2. Vimes

    Because one single regulator is easier to lobby, influence and bend to their way of thinking than having to go from state to state, repeating the same process ad nauseam.

    is going to be good for the economy

    Why should we pay any attention whatsoever to what they have to say on what's good for the economy when they put so much effort into avoiding taxes?

    1. Oh Matron!

      Came here to see this, not disappointed.

      It's going to be good for their tax dodging economy.... Oh, you said that too!

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    "Every successful OTT needs to be global, they can’t be local"

    What a load of crap.

  4. Someone_Somewhere

    Dear Google,

    Here in Europe we have what is known as a 'free market economy.'

    If you don't like it, please feel free to do business in another one instead.

    I gather China might have the kind of regulation you feel necessary for yours.

    Yours,

    Europe.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Dear Google,

      'Here in Europe we have what is known as a 'free market economy.' '

      Not really

      First line of the 'Blue Guide' is *REGULATING* THE FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODS. The EU single market is a (broadly) harmonised regulated market not a 'free' market with consistent non tariff barriers applied to all market entrants.

      Mind you I'm not sure Theo would like the results of his wish given say BEREC and the structure of the EDPB...

      Also kind of anathema to suggest member states give up authority to Brussels right now if not quite as far out as say 'Country of Origin Principles' and mutual recognition.

      1. Someone_Somewhere

        Re: Dear Google,

        True enough.

        I was really only making a point rather than concerned with strict adherence to ideological dogma, however. I'm not a believer in an unregulated market, as it happens, but it's /their/ game and /their/ rules so, if they want to oblige /me/ to play then they can damn well stick to them themselves!

        1. Dan Wilkie

          Re: Dear Google,

          TTIP, that is all.

  5. Roland6 Silver badge

    Tosh!

    Bertram said that unlike traditional telcos, Google faces a greater regulatory burden.

    Bertram, also dismissed the argument that OTT providers are "free riding" on telcos' infrastructure investment - pointing to the company's spend on data centres and undersea cables.

    So Google wants to be both a Telco and a OTT provider, it is therefore obvious that Google will be subject to the regulations that apply to international Telco's and those that apply to OTT providers - no brainer really.

    It seems that Bertram is discovering the real world of international business and regulations and why telco's traditionally charge higher prices for international connections... (https://www.linkedin.com/in/theo-bertram-4451b75a )

    1. Yes Me Silver badge

      Re: Tosh!

      "Europe needs a single telco regulator"

      ...it is therefore obvious that Google will be subject to the regulations that apply to international Telco's and those that apply to OTT providers...

      I'm having trouble seeing the "tosh" in all this. Googlefolk need to be careful what they wish for. They may be wishing for a toothless EU regulator. But if you believe that nice Mr Farage, the problem with the EU is that the officials in Brussels have far too many teeth to allow unbridled selfish capitalism. Seems to me that uniform regulation across the whole EU would be an excellent way to curb Google's enthusiasm (and one more argument, if neeeded, against BREXIT).

  6. All names Taken
    Alien

    Silly Billiies?

    The report is semi-official speak that the cousins endorse and support an integrated EU and finally accepts (unofficially?) the remarkable role played by Germany in the advancement of a European state united in social consensus (okay - UK excepted).

    And that a united states of Europe is on a doable business footing with Uncle Sam (of course it would be)

  7. Commswonk

    I beg your pardon..? Did you really mean that?

    He also said it would be "extremely unlikely" that the company's Project Loon – intended to provide Wi-Fi via hot air balloons to unconnected parts of the world – would come to the UK.

    "Last time one did, we had to warn the MoD not to shoot it down," he said.

    I hope he actually said "we had to plead with the MoD not to shoot it down". Google does not pay enough UK tax to enable it to warn the MoD not to do anything.

    Google needs shooting down...

    1. Dan Wilkie

      Re: I beg your pardon..? Did you really mean that?

      I don't understand why he thinks the MOD would shoot it down. As long as all the correct paperwork is filed and it's not in unrestricted airspace, they'd have no reason to do so.

      We don't just shoot down every flying object that enters UK Airspace you know...

      1. Vimes

        Re: I beg your pardon..? Did you really mean that?

        Speaking of airspace: this is off topic perhaps, but does anybody here remember Mark Thomas and the TV show he used to have? (on channel 4 I think, but my memory may be playing tricks on me).

        He seemed to get great satisfaction winding people up or generally pushing his luck in order to make a point. One such occasion involved Menwith Hill and the land there used by the NSA for their listening station.

        Apparently it's standard practice to seriously limit the flights in and around such bases in the US, but because the land was owned by the RAF and just leased to the US government the same limits did not apply. He ended up running a hot air balloon trip over the base, and even wrote a website for the occasion

        (a copy of that site can still be found here: http://www.setec.org/~izaac/www.menwithhill.com/)

        It's a pity he still doesn't do his show. I wonder what he makes of everything that has happened since?

  8. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

    Google over regulated?

    Surely Google UK is regulated in the UK, Google France is regulated in France, Google Germany is regulated in Germany and so on and so forth? They don't have an overarching Google Europe for tax reasons so why would a non-existent Google Europe need a non-existent OfCom Europe? Each Google subsidiary deals with it's local government.

  9. Doctor_Wibble
    Devil

    . <= violin of appropriate size

    I wanted to add to the 'boo fckn hoo' commentardery, but I really can't even manage to think about starting to look at the possibility of considering caring about such dreadfully upsetting unfairness in the slightest.

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