Mobile operators want likes of Google and Apple to help fund network upgrades

Content providers may end up contributing to help support traffic growth on the networks

Content providers such as Google have come under fire from mobile operators who are pushing for financial support to upgrade networks that are struggling under increasing amounts of data traffic.

Neelie Kroes, the European commissioner in charge of the Digital Agenda, will host a summit on the 3 March in an attempt to bash out the issue once and for all.

According to the FT, chairman of the mobile operators' representative body GSMA and chief executive of Telecom Italia, Franco Bernabé, complained that billions of euros were being spent on upgrading networks to deal with the increase of video traffic, where content providers are massively benefitting without any burden of the cost.

"[Content providers] are heavily using our networks but just don't contribute to their development," said Bernabé.

He argued that operators should be able to charge content providers so as to create a new source of revenue for delivery of their material to end users.

"We can provide new, higher quality services to the content providers. And of course, these services will be remunerated," he added.

Bernabé's proposals are likely to face criticism as they undermine the principle of net neutrality - where all web traffic should be treated equally.

However, he insisted network operators respect the principle of net neutrality and that information would continue to be freely available over basic internet.

In a letter written to those planning to attend the meeting, Kroes cited her concern that digital reforms may fail due to a lack of investment in networks.