[천지일보=손지하 기자] The Ministry of Science and ICT (Ministry of Science and Technology) has prepared an amendment to the’Guideline on Network Neutrality and Internet Traffic Management (Network Neutrality Guideline)’.
According to the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 27th, network neutrality is a principle that ISPs should treat legitimate Internet traffic equally regardless of the content, type, or provider. Since 2012, Korea has implemented the’Net Neutrality Guideline’ which stipulates the main contents of the net neutrality principle.
With the recent development of network technologies such as 5G, communication service providers can provide convergence services that require a certain quality, such as autonomous vehicles. However, there were concerns that the quality of the Internet used by general users may deteriorate in the process of spreading convergence services. It was also pointed out that the requirements for providing new convergence services are not clear under the current laws.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Science and ICT made the current requirements for providing network neutral exception services through the revised bill. To this end, the concept of specialized service was introduced, such as overseas (EU, US).
Special services are services provided for specific purposes by guaranteeing a certain level of quality (speed, delay level, etc.) for specific users only. It is provided through a separate network physically and logically separated from the Internet access service.
With the introduction of this special service concept, it is expected that the provision of new convergence services will be possible under certain conditions, thereby eliminating market uncertainty.
The conditions for providing special services were also specified. Even when special services are provided, the possibility of abuse of special services is blocked by maintaining the quality of the Internet used by general users at an appropriate level.
The communication service provider must maintain the Internet access service quality at an appropriate level and continuously upgrade the network. It also prohibited the provision of special services for the purpose of avoiding the network neutrality principle.
In addition, transparency was reinforced to alleviate information asymmetry between users such as telecommunications and content providers. It plans to provide sufficient information to users by requesting and monitoring information on the Internet access service of telecommunication companies and the operation status and quality impact of special services. The target of information disclosure of telecommunications companies was expanded, the government checked the quality of Internet access service, etc., and requested the telecommunications companies to submit related data.
The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to implement the revised guideline from January next year, prepare a commentary so that it can be applied smoothly in the field, and continuously monitor the market situation.
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