Observed Signal · Jul 16, 2019 · Regulation · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Telekom StreamOn must be altered after ruling
Germany’s Oberverwaltungsgericht Nordrhein-Westfalen (OVG NRW) ruled that Telekom’s StreamOn zero-rating options are not compliant with net neutrality and European roaming rules, upholding an earlier Köln Administrative Court decision in emergency proceedings against the Bundesnetzagentur. StreamOn is a free mobile data add-on available only in Germany; abroad data usage is charged against the inclusive data volume, and within Germany users can experience throttling up to 1.7 Mbps, preventing HD streaming. The Bundesnetzagentur argues the scheme violates net neutrality principles and EU roaming provisions. Because the ruling concerns provisional measures, the agency’s assessment could be implemented ahead of the main case’s final decision. The OVG NRW decision is final and cannot be appealed, meaning Telekom must modify the StreamOn offering before customers may use it again. The case has traversed all judicial instances, underscoring regulatory enforcement of net neutrality and roaming rules in the German market.
Regulatory decision impacting net neutrality and roaming rules in a major telecom market
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- OVG NRW ruled Telekom's StreamOn zero-rating options non-compliant with net neutrality and EU roaming rules.
- The ruling confirms the Köln Administrative Court's emergency decision in Telekom Deutschland GmbH against Bundesnetzagentur.
- StreamOn is a free mobile data add-on available only in Germany; abroad traffic counts against the inclusive data volume.
- In Germany, the service throttles to a maximum of 1.7 Mbps, preventing HD streaming.
- Telekom must modify the StreamOn offering before customers can use it again; the decision is final.
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