Online content developers should pay network costs, says Telefonica

Consumers could find that the online content they download using mobile devices will become more expensive in future.

Mobile network operators want regulators to allow them to force companies behind content to contribute towards the network costs of delivering this.

César Alierta, Telefonica's chief executive told the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week that content companies must contribute to network costs if current upward trends in mobile data use are to continue.

As well as the possibility that content developers would pass on these costs, thus raising prices for consumers, this raises issues around net neutrality. This is based on the principle that all web traffic and content, provided it is legal, is treated equally.

Debates over this have focused mainly on landline internet connections, and internet service providers throttling or slowing down connections to certain online services such as the BBC's iPlayer; unless customers are paying a premium.

And if content providers don't pay mobile network operators, the same principle could apply.

Analysts have predicted that between 2010 and 2014, the cost of upgrading networks to handle the increasing volume of mobile content would cost telecoms companies around 240bn euros in upgrade costs.

"Regulation should allow the recovery of network costs, promoting investment, traffic efficiency and fostering new services development," Mr Alierta said in his presentation.

He is not alone in his views. The Independent reported that Stéphane Richard, France Télécom chief executive, said his company had "decided to go on the offensive" and would demand content producers contribute to costs.