Operators are prohibited from slowing down the internet - AKEP: They should not favor certain applications and penalize others
A package of new rules aims to stop operators from blocking, slowing down or favoring applications and websites.
The document published for public consultation by the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP) concerns the so-called "open internet", a concept that directly affects the way citizens use the internet every day, on their mobile phones, at home, at work or at school.
In other words, an open internet means that the operator does not choose for you what works best on the internet. It is not allowed for some applications to open quickly, while others are slowed down, blocked, or treated differently for commercial reasons.
According to the draft directive, citizens have the right to full and equal access to any website, social network, communication application or video platform, as long as the content is legal. This includes widely used services such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, WhatsApp, Zoom or online learning and work platforms.
AKEP explains that practices such as “free internet” only for certain applications, or preferential treatment of partner platforms, contradict the principle of the open internet. This means that operators should not create “two-speed internet”, where some services are privileged and others are penalized.
The document acknowledges that operators can offer different internet packages, with different speeds and limits, but sets a clear limit: if the speed drops after the package ends, it must drop equally for the entire internet, not just for certain applications.
Another important element is transparency towards the consumer. Operators will be obliged to clearly inform citizens about the real speed of the internet, the terms of the contract, traffic management practices and provide complaint mechanisms when the service does not match what was promised.
The document also provides for a more active role for AKEP in monitoring and supervising the market, giving the authority the legal basis to intervene and take corrective measures in case of violations by operators.
This draft guideline is part of the process of approximating Albanian legislation with European Union rules.
Responsible Countries Index/ Where does Albania rank? We are ahead of many developed economies and at the top of the region
The Responsible Nation Index (RNI) 2026 represents a fundamental shift in how a country’s success is measured globally. For decades, economic indicators,......
Oil price falls more than 1% - US-Iran talks ease supply concerns
Oil prices fell more than 1% on Monday as fears of a Middle East conflict eased after the United States and Iran pledged to continue indirect talks over......
Europeans are getting richer, but not all equally? - What can we provide with real family income
"Real household income" is what you actually have after taxes and inflation. In northern Europe, high prices make a meal out much more expensive. In the......
Tirana Airport closes 2025 at the top of the region - TIA: Passenger record, 11.6 million in just one year
Tirana International Airport has confirmed its leading position in the region for 2025. According to official statistics published by Airports Council......
Battery manufacturer cancels investments in Italy and Germany - ACC and Stellantis no longer plan to open gigafactories
European car battery company Automotive Cells is suspending plans to build battery gigafactories in Italy and Germany, the Italian metalworkers' union UILM......
US challenges Chinese control of African minerals - Chinese firms have controlled copper and cobalt assets for years
The United States is using purchase agreements and state-backed financing to compete with China in the short term in securing supplies of African copper,......
US deal, Indian refineries avoid Russian oil - Russian oil imports to drop below 1 million barrels per day by March
Indian refiners are avoiding buying Russian oil for April delivery and are expected to stay away from such purchases for a longer time, refining and trading......
Energy and gas prices in European cities - Which are the most expensive and cheapest in 2026?
Residential energy prices in Europe rose sharply after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. They stabilized about a year later, but remain above......
