With resolution 348/18/CONS, AgCOM adapts Italian regulations to the European directive on Net neutrality. Here’s what changes for users
If you’re about to sign a new phone contract with lots of connectivity to the Net, pay attention to what it says. From December 31, 2018 comes into force the new AgCOM resolution 348/18/CONS, trivially called “Free Modem”. In this way, Italy complies with the European directive on Net neutrality.
A decision that makes users happy, but that has found the iron opposition of telephone companies. The resolution, in fact, was published at the end of July, but put in stand by following the request for suspension made by TIM but rejected by the TAR of Lazio. Fastweb and Vodafone, on the other hand, have made separate requests aimed at cancelling the resolution and are still waiting to receive a response from the administrative judges of Lazio. In the meantime, however, the companies must adapt to the change and already from December 1 are forced to update the contractual conditions of their offers.
What is the resolution “Free Modem”
As said initially, with the adoption of the resolution of AgCOM users will no longer be forced to use the modem router of telephone companies. The operator, therefore, will not be able to hinder in any way the will of its customers to use a different device from the one proposed in the contractual phase.
What changes for users
Since December 31, therefore, those who want can buy the device that best suits their needs. If, for example, we are gamers (or we like to watch streaming TV series) and we want videogames data traffic to have priority over other applications, we should look for a router with Quality of Service, which allows to set priorities in data traffic. A feature now quite common even in entry level devices but not always available in those made available by telephone companies.
The latter, moreover, should provide guides for the configuration of modem routers of various manufacturers, so that users can easily use a device they have purchased or already in their possession. Finally, the various offers will have to be declined both for those who want to continue to use the equipment offered by the operator (therefore an “all inclusive” package) and for those who prefer to be autonomous and do not want to use the router of the chosen telephone company for the home Internet line.