It is reported that the EU's plan to promote large technology companies to fund 5G deployment has been shelved until 2025.

CTOnews.com, Oct. 12 (Reuters)-European telecom operators have called on large technology companies to share some of the costs for the construction of 5G and broadband networks, but may have to wait until the next European Commission to decide whether to propose rules, according to Reuters.

European telecom companies say Google, Meta, Netflix, Microsoft and Amazon should bear some construction costs because they account for a large portion of Internet traffic. Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, Telef ó nica and Telecom Italia call it a fair sharing of funds, while big technology companies see it as an Internet tax.

Thierry Thierry Breton, the EU's head of industry, was expected to introduce legislation this year after seeking feedback from both sides on what he called an investment gap of 200 billion euros (CTOnews.com Note: about 1.55 trillion yuan). The French commissioner, a former chief executive of France Telecom, supported the operator's demands but was opposed by some other commissioners and some EU countries.

Mr Bretton is now likely to come up with a strategic plan on the issue next year, leaving it to the next committee to decide whether to introduce legislation, according to people familiar with the matter. The current term of the committee will end in November next year.

One of the sources said that a final decision had not yet been made and that legislative proposals on funding were still likely to appear in the committee's work plan released on October 18, which would set out the long-term goals of the EU's implementing agencies.