US telecoms giant Verizon is to open up its network to any mobile device or internet application.

Until now, the company ­ the second largest mobile carrier in the US ­ has favoured a model where a small number of organisations dominate control of internet access.

The strategic turnaround follows public criticism, led by Google, arguing for the “net neutrality” principle that access to the web should remain a level playing field.

Europe is yet to enter the net neutrality debate because of its more open telecoms markets. But as consumers demand higher-bandwidth multimedia mobile services, infrastructure limitations may push towards a two-tier solution.

Verizon’s decision is a PR victory against Google and will also help to win over new users, according to Ovum analyst Jan Dawson.

“It is about giving an alternative to a select number of users who do not like the current pricing model,” he said.

“There may be people who want to use certain devices that are not available under Verizon.”

Primarily, the carrier’s announcement signifies a desire to reclaim the initiative after months of being on the back foot. But it is possible the move will herald a broader shift in strategy, said Dawson.

“It is the first time that an operator has done something like this. Whether or not this will start a trend, we will have to see,” he said.

“But it is an important first step and if other carriers follow suit, particularly the GSM carriers, there will be a much bigger impact.”