TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The European Commission, the executive body of European Union, announced that they will require all smartphone and device manufacturers to support USB-C connections. Quoted from The Verge website, this is to uniform data connections and charging on devices while reducing electronic waste.
The electronic waste referred to by the European Commission here is the charger and its cable. If all devices support the same connection, the European Commission believes e-waste will be reduced because consumer-owned chargers and cables can be used on any device and manufacturers no longer have to produce them in bulk.
“Chargers charge all of our basic electronic equipment. In the market, more and more devices with different specifications encourage the use of different chargers. We want to end this,” said European Commission member Thierry Breton, Thursday, September 23 2021.
The Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Margrethe Vestager, added that the plan for uniform connection was also triggered by the slow pace of the gadget industry in presenting solutions for e-waste. Do not want to linger, said Vestager, legislative steps were taken by the commission for convenience and common interests.
Kaiann Drance of Apple shows off the new iPhone 13 during a special event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California broadcast September 14, 2021. iPhone 13 starts at 699 USD (Rp 9.9 million), iPhone 13 Pro starts at 999 USD (Rp 14, 2 million) and Pro Max starting at 1,099 USD (Rp 15.6 million). All three models will be available on September 24. Apple Inc/Handout via REUTERS
“European consumers are frustrated with the increasing number of chargers and cables that don’t work with each other and pile up in their drawers,” Vestager said.
Besides smartphone, the products that will be affected by this rule if passed are tablets, headphones, portable speakers, video game consoles, cameras, and many more.
According to the Verge report, the draft rules made by the European Commission will also take into account the issue of fast-charging technology that is different for each device manufacturer. The target is that device manufacturers must ensure that the fast-charging feature is also included in all their products.
Regarding the sale and purchase of chargers and cables, they are not left behind in the design of the relevant rules. The plan ensures that customers will be given the freedom to choose between buying gawai products with a charger or not.
Of the many manufacturers, Apple likely to be most affected by this policy. Currently, Apple uses a different cable in iPhone, iPad, and Macbooks for data connection and charging, namely Lightning. Meanwhile, the majority of its competitors use USB-C.
For the law to be passed, the draft must first be passed in the European Union Parliament. The voting system is usually used for that. If adopted, manufacturers and manufacturers are given two years to modify their production in accordance with applicable EU rules.
In 2020, this draft uniformity of data connection and charging has been submitted to the European Parliament. The majority of EU members support it, indicating it will not be difficult for the new policy to be passed.
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ISTMAN MP | THE VERGE
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