The Netherlands It has taken an important step forward so that its citizens have freer access to mobile communications. The Parlament has legalized the use of operator-free SIM cards. A change in the Telecommunications Law it will also end up with locked devices by the operators, thus guaranteeing the freedom in choosing coverage for any mobile device.
The Netherlands will be the first country where free SIMs are legal. In most countries they are directly illegal and in those that are not regulated, they do not exist.
Users can thus buy a phone from any company that sells it, including an operator, and then choose a different contract with another because it is more advantageous to them. Until now the closest thing was the free Dual SIM devices, but we are not even close to what is being achieved here. Obviously, this new situation will mainly benefit smartphones but tablets with support for mobile networks may be affected. We think mainly of iPads or some Samsung tablets.
Users and manufacturers benefit
Users will not be the only beneficiaries, but manufacturers will be able to start market equipment that already comes with these integrated cards and then wait for the customer to make the contract on their own. This will allow them sell your devices with fewer obstacles, without having to negotiate launch prices with the operators and being able to choose another specialized or generalist distributor that gives them better conditions.
It should not be forgotten that sometimes the contracts and the exclusivity imposed by the operators is a brake on the sales of some devices, beyond the fact that the manufacturer has a good product and makes a convincing marketing campaign.
Apple already proposed a solution in this regard in 2010 but could not carry it out due to the legal problems that they entailed.
In order to modify these laws that make free SIM cards illegal to decriminalize them, manufacturers will not find operators doing lobby, but yes to users. Thus, telecos, as good intermediaries, cannot always avoid being in the middle, something that is already beginning to sound somewhat recurrent, especially in our country.
Source: CNET