A guideline has been prepared that acknowledges network slicing, a core 5G technology applied to some convergence services such as autonomous vehicles, as an exception to network neutrality.
By introducing the concept of’special service’ to the network that is separate from the Internet access service, the current requirements for providing network neutral exception service have been made clearer.
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 27th that after several discussions at the Network Neutrality Research Group formed last year, the’revision of guidelines for network neutrality and Internet traffic management’ was prepared.
Network neutrality is the principle that all data transmitted over the Internet network should be treated equally regardless of the content or type.
Network slicing is a technology that provides customized services to each network by dividing a physical communication network in a virtualized manner.
The core of this revised guideline is the introduction of a special service concept.
The Ministry of Science and ICT stipulated that providing services for specific purposes only to specific users as special services. It must be provided through a separate network physically separated from the Internet access service.
Services with special purposes such as autonomous vehicles and telemedicine, network slicing built for these services, and mobile edge computing (MEC) are special services.
Special services include services subscribed to and used for a specific purpose, such as IPTV or Internet phone (VoIP).
With this revision of the guideline, special services are allowed to be exempted from network neutrality.
However, it also contains the provision of safety devices to prevent general Internet service users from being damaged by special services.
Communication service providers (ISPs) must maintain the level of Internet quality used by general users at an appropriate level even if they provide special services. Network advancement should also be continued. Providing special services to circumvent the network neutrality principle is prohibited.
The guideline also includes measures to mitigate information asymmetry between telecommunications operators and content providers (CP).
To this end, the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to check the quality of service providers’ Internet access and have them submit related data such as quality impact.
The Ministry of Science and ICT explained, “This revised guideline makes it clear that new convergence services such as autonomous vehicles can be provided if special service provision requirements are met while maintaining the net neutrality principle.”
The revised guidelines will take effect from January next year.
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