Google, Meta and Netflix should share cost of Europe’s Internet network, say France, Italy and Spain

France, Spain, Italy, and Spain are pressing the European Commission to create legislation that allows Big Tech firms to finance the telecoms infrastructure within the bloc, according to a leaked document.

This was the first time that the three governments had expressed their common position on the issue.

EU regulators indicated in May that they were looking into the question of whether tech companies Alphabet’s Google, Meta and Netflix should bear some of the cost of upgrading telecoms networks.

The three governments stated that the six largest content providers accounted to for 55% of Internet traffic in a joint paper. A copy of this paper was seen by Reuters.

The document stated that this would create costs for European telecom operators in terms capacity at a time when they are already investing heavily in the most expensive parts of the networks with 5G or Fiber-To-The Home.

It recommended that European telecom networks and large online content provider pay fair shares of network cost.

The document stated that “We call for legislation… ensuring all market participants contribute to digital infrastructure costs.”

Big Tech’s contribution to the EU economy could be a major boost

Two officials from the Italian government confirmed details of the joint document. One of them said that Rome’s government was prepared to support the caretaking capacity of the country ahead of a September general election.

Reuters asked the French and Spanish governments for comment immediately.

According to a study released by telecoms lobbying group ETNO earlier this year, an annual contribution of €20 billion to network costs by the tech giants could give a €72 billion boost to the EU economy.

Digital rights activists warn that Big Tech paying for networks could jeopardize EU net neutrality rules. They feared they could be diluted by a deal with online giants to fund telecoms networks.

According to the joint document, any legislative proposal should “ensure fairness for users in accordance the net neutrality regulations, which is a fundamental principle we absolutely must preserve.”