PRESS RELEASE

Assoprovider: "Operators that impose routers on customers are illegal"

"The major Italian telecommunications operators force users to purchase the modem/router device chosen by themselves in violation of European regulations," is the complaint of Dino Bortolotto, president of Assoprovider, an independent association of companies that operate as Internet Service Providers. The president highlights the non-compliance with the EU Regulation 2015-2020 of the European Parliament, which establishes the user's right to freely choose the router with which to connect to the Internet.

Assoprovider also explains that there are no technical reasons for the limitations imposed on consumers by large operators. "The technologies of Internet and VoIP networks adhere to specific standards issued by organizations or associations such as IETF, ITU-T, 3GPP, and DSL-Forum. The Internet and VoIP services provided by large operators to customers are regulated by the same technical standards adopted by the vast majority of national and international operators."

The violation of the regulations results in final disadvantages for the user who "if they decide to change operator, will be forced to purchase a new device." Furthermore, non-compliance with the law also causes serious security and privacy protection issues for users:

"By imposing a specific device, the operator not only has the means to completely control a part of the customer's network, but in fact exposes the user to possible disastrous consequences that result from the choice and interest of the Telecommunications Operator."

"Consider," continues Bortolotto, "the recent disruption that the customers of a major operator are experiencing due to the fact that the imposed modem router has been tampered with by a cyber attack; unable to change the modem router due to policy, these users find themselves deprived of Internet access service."

The neutrality of the web is at risk, "there are value-added services, perhaps IPTV (a system for transmitting television signals over computer networks), that could be optimized only for certain content providers, perhaps those in partnership with the telecom operator in question, and not with others available on the market."

The customer experience could be so adversely affected as to discourage them from using and contracting services from other operators.

"The companies associated with Assoprovider have always operated in compliance with sector regulations and the ethical principles that characterize them, while the major operators, in fact, allow themselves to operate without respecting the regulations or the aforementioned ethical principles," concludes Bortolotto.

 Assoprovider is the association that since 1999 has brought together the first Internet providers (the Internet Service Providers) who have contributed with their battles against multinationals. Among the association's achievements is the approval of the "Legge Salvaprovider," which equated ISPs with telephone operators. And the liberalization of WIFI in public venues or confined areas of public attendance.

ASSOPROVIDER Secretariat: Via Casa Sasso, 7 – 84014 Nocera Inferiore (SA) Email: segreteria@assoprovider.it

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