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The concept of net neutrality

The issue of net neutrality concerns whether and where there should be a principle 

of  non‑  discrimination regarding different forms of internet traffic carried across net‑

works.

The communications sector is entering a period where there is rapidly increas‑

ing traffic on the internet, such as video and peer‑to‑peer applications (for example, 

games and VoIP services). This rapid increase in traffic is generating substantial 

congestion in some parts of the internet. Moreover many of these applications are 

 time‑  sensitive and are far less tolerant of delay than, say, email or web browsing.

To respond to these new applications and their associated demands, service pro‑

viders are developing a range of business models that facilitate the prioritisation of 

different types of traffic. This is enabled by improvements in network technology 

that are allowing greater identification of internet packets associated with different 

applications, which can then be prioritised, accordingly.

Ofcom goes on to explain the arguments for and against net neutrality and the current 

position in Europe.