Deutsche Telekom will change its StreamOn option, lifting the "bandwidth optimization" restrictions for videos first and allowing customers to use the StreamOn within the EU from the beginning of September, Heise Online reports. This follows an order from the regulator upheld in court requiring the company to adapt the zero-rated data option to meet EU regulations.
The Higher Administrative Court of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia ruled recently that Deutsche Telekom cannot continue to operate the StreamOn offering in its current form. The court decided in an urgent procedure initiated by Telekom Deutschland against the Federal Network Agency.
The Federal Network Agency ruled in late 2017 that StreamOn violates the principle of net neutrality according to EU law, as well as European roaming regulations. StreamOn offers zero-rated mobile data for certain applications and is included in various Telekom postpaid plans. Through the service, the data traffic for audio and video streaming of content partners is not counted against the monthly data allowance.
To date, the service was not valid for customers roaming in the EU. Telekom also restricted the resolution of some videos to SD. To comply with the EU regulations, the company said it will adapt the StreamOn conditions, with no change in price.
