The Dutch economic affairs minister has warned that plans by European telecoms operators to charge an Internet toll for streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube will ultimately see costs passed on to consumers.

Large operators based in the European Union (EU) are currently considering a fee for the internet traffic that online service providers, including video streaming services, send to subscribers.

The Netherlands has always argued against the toll and has been involved in establishing EU legislation that bans telecoms companies from blocking, slowing down, or charging separately for internet traffic.

“Telecom operators want to get paid twice with an extra EU Internet toll,” said minister Micky Adriaansens.

He continued: “Consumers are likely expected to pay more for streaming services, because these companies will pass on extra costs, in whole or in part, to their customers."

Adriaansens also warned that an internet toll might not be compatible with net neutrality.

The Netherlands has recently commissioned economists to find out whether the toll will boost new or additional network investments.

The government says that the investigation demonstrates that this "doesn’t seem to be the case" and that the move would not be the right way to realise EU digital ambitions.

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