Dutch telecom operator changes prices for mobile internet in response to new telecom law

Dutch telecom operator Telfort announced this week that they will raise their prices for mobile internet subscriptions on July 1st. The telecom provider will include pricing schemes with data limits.

At this moment, customers can have unlimited mobile internet access for €9.95 per month, at speeds of 768 Kbps. For €14.95, the speed is increased to 1.5 Mbps. The new subscription plan offers more choice in terms of speed and data limits. A 200MB connection (at 1 Mbps) is available for €6.95 per month. 1GB of internet speeds up to 3.6 Mbps will cost €10.95 and, lastly, there will be a scheme that offers 1.5 GB to 3.6 Mbps speeds and costs €15.95. If users exceed their data limit they will pay an additional fee of 5 cents per MB.

Telfort expects some customers will experience an increase in price, while others will be spending less, whithout changing their mobile internet habits. For example, small users will spend considerably less because they can opt for a bundle of 200MB.

Heavy users will have to go for the more expensive price plan of 1.5 GB for €15.95 euro per month and may spend another 25 euro on separate data charges adding up to a toal of €40.95 per month for mobile internet use.

The new prices are probably a direct response to the recently proposed amendments to the Telecommunications Law. The Dutch Parliament has included therein that internet service providers may not differentiate with regard to transfer of services. This puts telco’s in a difficult position. Customers can call -and send messages- for free via the internet these days and telecom companies fear that they will sell fewer phone-calls and text messages. It would therefore be attractive to block or delay competitive (free) services. The Parliament prevented that with their net neutrality amendment last week. Telfort complies with the upcoming new legislation. Telecom operators are allowed to offer different pricing plans relating to data usage and speed, not to specific Internet services.

Source: Nu.nl