Telcos detail plan to charge Big Tech firms for access to Internet users

European Internet service providers say they should be allowed to demand new fees from online companies that account for over 5 percent of a telco's average peak traffic.

Telecom companies, which have been seeking payments from tech firms for many years, a few months ago convinced the European Union government to seek public input on the controversial plan to make online platforms pay for broadband network upgrades and expansions. The 5 percent figure was pitched to the EU this week in a proposal from the GSM Association, which represents mobile network operators, and the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO).

In a "summary of the joint telecom industry response to the EU consultation," which was provided to Ars by ETNO, the groups wrote: