Set USB-C As Standard, European Union: A Victory For Consumers

USB-C illustration. (Wikimedia Commons / Maurizio Pesce)

JAKARTA - The European Union proposed new rules on Thursday that would make USB-C ports standard on smartphones, tablets, cameras, phones, portable speakers and handheld video game systems.

The move is a setback for tech giant Apple, which uses its own 'Lightning' port on iPhones. While these new rules will be in effect years away, Apple could be forced to make changes to its flagship products.

"European consumers have long been frustrated about incompatible chargers piling up in their drawers. We gave the industry plenty of time to find their own solutions, now the time is ripe for legislative action for common chargers," said EU Technology Head Margrethe Vestager, citing CNN September 23.

"This is an important win for our consumers and the environment and in line with our green and digital ambitions," he added.

The average EU citizen owns three cell phone chargers, according to the European Commission, the bloc's executive body. However, 38 percent of consumers are unable to charge their phone at least once, because they don't have the right charger.

USB-C illustration (Wikimedia Commons/Fructibus)

About 2.4 billion euros, or about 2.8 billion US dollars, is spent annually on self-contained chargers that do not come with electronic devices, according to the Commission.

In fact, European officials have been pushing the tech industry to standardize chargers for more than a decade. During that time, the number of mobile charging ports on the market has dropped from 30 to three.

Separately, Apple said it will continue to engage with stakeholders to help find solutions that protect consumer interests.

"We remain concerned that stringent regulations mandating only one type of connector hinder innovation rather than encourage it, which in turn will hurt consumers in Europe and around the world," the company said in a statement.