Brussels, 21 October 2021 – EuroISPA, the pan-European association of Internet Services Providers Associations, welcomes a new Council member, AMS-IX (Amsterdam Internet Exchange), a member-based association that operates interconnection platforms around the world.

Alexandra Laffitte, President of EuroISPA, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming AMS-IX as the newest member of EuroISPA. AMS-IX will play an important role in the association, contributing enthusiastically to our discussions on policy impacting the infrastructure of the Internet. As the digital sphere continues to change in shape and dynamics, we at EuroISPA believe that it is increasingly important to be able to represent the whole Internet value chain and work together to achieve common goals. We extend our wholehearted welcome to AMS-IX.”

EuroISPA is the representative body of Internet Services Providers (ISPs) across the European continent. Founded in 1997, EuroISPA functions as an ‘umbrella’ association representing ISP associations on policy and legislative issues and facilitates the exchange of best practices between members. The association is structured around different, topical Committees, which allow members to regularly exchange ideas and views on specific policy matters and dossiers.

AMS-IX a neutral member-based association that operates multiple interconnection platforms around the world. Its leading platform in Amsterdam plays a crucial role at the core of the internet and has more than 880 connected networks and over 10 Terabits per second (TBps) of peak traffic.

Peter van Burgel, CEO of AMS-IX, stated: “In the coming years, the European Union will have a major impact on the technical functioning of the Internet by means of new legislation and European stimulation programs. By joining EuroISPA, AMS-IX wants to actively participate in the discussions on the future of the Internet and give a voice to the values that have made the Internet such a huge success.”

About AMS-IX

AMS-IX (Amsterdam Internet Exchange) is a neutral member-based association that operates multiple interconnection platforms around the world. Our leading platform in Amsterdam has been playing a crucial role at the core of the internet for more than 25 years and is one of the largest hubs for internet traffic in the world, with over 10 Terabits per second (Tbps) of peak traffic. Connecting to AMS-IX ensures customers such as internet service providers, telecom companies and cloud providers can route their global IP traffic in an efficient, fast, secure, stable and cost-effective way. This allows them to offer low latency and engaging online experiences for end-users. AMS-IX interconnects more than 1000 IP-networks in the world. AMS-IX also manages the world’s first mobile peering points: the Global Roaming Exchange (GRX), the Mobile Data Exchange (MDX) and the Internetwork Packet Exchange (I-IPX) interconnection points.

More information: www.ams-ix.net

EuroISPA joins industry members to co-sign a letter to EU Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo calling for a swifter agreement on secure transatlantic data flows, particularly in the context of the invalidated EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework.

Signatories recognise the ongoing efforts to create a new, strengthened EU-U.S. framework for the transfer of personal information, whilst highlighting that it is crucial that this be achieved as soon as possible, so as to ensure the growth and innovation of businesses in both the EU and the US.

Read the letter here:

Brussels, 6 July 2021 – EuroISPA, a pan-European association of Internet Services Providers Associations welcomes a new Forum member: Cambium Networks, an infrastructure provider which offers wireless connectivity to people worldwide.

EuroISPA represents Internet Services Providers (ISPs) across the European continent, creating a common voice aimed at promoting and protecting the interests of its members. Active since 1997, EuroISPA acts as un ‘umbrella’ association representing ISP associations on policy and legislative issues and facilitates the exchange of best practices between members. EuroISPA’s Industry Forum allows companies with a legitimate interest in the Internet industry to participate in EuroISPA’s activities, acting in an advisory capacity and providing input on relevant policy issues.

Alexandra Laffitte, President of EuroISPA, stated: “We are delighted that Cambium Networks is joining our community as a new member. EuroISPA represents the common voice of European Internet Services Providers, and the valuable addition to our membership of Cambium Networks strengthens our position as a prominent stakeholder representative body in the sector.”

Cambium Networks provides advanced wireless communication network infrastructure to private network operators in the business, including education and hospitality, local and national government, defense, and industrial markets, in addition to the broadband Internet Service Provider community supported by EuroISPA. Cambium Networks’ end-to-end solutions include Fixed 5G, 60 GHz mmWave networks capable of delivering multiple gigabits of data wirelessly to the edge, and indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi 6, among others. 

Martín de la Serna, Vice President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa of Cambium Networks said: “Cambium Networks is pleased to join EuroISPA as a Forum Member and collaborate with EuroISPA to further its critical mission. Internet Service Providers and policymakers across Europe find themselves at a unique inflection point marked by rapid services evolution, promise and potential and can benefit greatly from EuroISPA’s leadership. Cambium Networks, as a leading technology supplier to wireless internet service providers around the globe, looks forward to supporting EuroISPA and its stakeholders as Europe advances towards its Gigabit Decade goals.”

April 30 2021 – Brussels

Following last week’s adoption of the EU Regulation to prevent the dissemination of terrorist content online by the European Parliament’s LIBE Committee (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs), the Regulation has now been adopted by the Plenary in second reading, without a final vote.  

Malcolm Hutty, Chair of the Intermediary Liability Committee, commented: “While we welcome several improvements in the final text, EuroISPA regrets the inclusion of an inflexible one-hour timeframe to execute removal orders. Forcing companies to move too fast will inevitably impair the quality of decisions and will risk inappropriate removals of legitimate content and mis-use of the system. This will be especially problematic for smaller businesses without previous experience of encountering terrorist content, who will not have pre-existing relationships with anti-terrorist police and awareness of good practice guidance.”  

EuroISPA also notes that the text could be attacked at the domestic level leading to legal uncertainty for service providers. For instance, the final Regulation contains provisions which are similar to the rules established by the French Law on tackling hate speech online (so called “Avia law”), which were declared to be unconstitutional by the French Constitutional Council in 2020.  

At the same time, EuroISPA notes some important positive changes in the final text. For instance, penalties determined by Member States will need to take into account the nature and size of the hosting service provider, mitigating risks of high sanctions for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). “It was important that the regulation does not stipulate obligations to use automatic tools and pursue active content monitoring. However, we will have to observe how the relevant rules will turn out in practice”, said Malcolm Hutty.  

Going forward, EuroISPA’s national members will maintain a constructive dialogue with their respective Competent Authorities and will keep tackling terrorist content online efficiently and responsibly, in order to ensure a safe Internet for EU citizens and businesses.