The head of Deutsche Telekom calls for regulatory changes in internet companies

BARCELONA (Reuters) – Deutsche Telekom Chief Executive Tim Hoettges has called for regulation of internet companies such as Google and Facebook because they offer communications services in a similar way to telecom operators.

“There is convergence between leading internet companies and classic telecommunications operators,” he said. “We need one level of regulatory environment for all of us.”

On Monday, Hoettges spoke at the Mobile World Congress, where about 90,000 industry executives and delegates gathered.

He added that if policymakers want telecoms companies to invest, the regulatory burden on them needs to be reduced, in particular through better spectrum policy.

Europe is also working on a net neutrality law, and Hoettges asked policymakers to give telecom groups enough freedom to develop new services such as connected cars and smart meters.

“We support net neutrality, but we must be able to conduct quality classes to enable new services in the Internet of Things,” he said.

(Reporting by Leila Abboud; Editing by Harro Ten Wolde)