New Delhi: The idea of net neutrality or free and equal Internet to all has garnered wide attention from across the globe. While countries like the US, Chile, Netherlands and Brazil have already adopted Net Neutrality that doesn't allow discrimination of Internet content or charge users differently based on the content, site, or platform they consume, back home the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also asked for mass feedback to help formulate regulations that could change the way Indian netizens consume the Web in the near future.
While consumers appear to be majorly in favour of Net Neutrality, telecom companies are up in arms against the concept owing to the notion that bringing equality of Internet would cut down on their prospective revenue from the OTT services that are offered through their network, including apps such as WhatsApp, Flipkart, Skype, etc.
Below is the timeline of the landmarks in the net neutrality debate in India:
In 2006, TRAI had invited opinion regarding the regulation of net neutrality from various telecom operators.
In February 2012, Airtel chief, Sunil Bharti Mittal, suggested that services like YouTube should pay an interconnect charge to network operators. In July same year, the company reiterated that large Internet companies like Google and Facebook should share their revenue with telecom companies for allowing their services for free to the users.
In February 2014, Airtel again raised the proposal of regulating apps like WhatsApp, Skype, and Line. However, TRAI rejected the proposal.
On March 27, 2015, TRAI, published a 'Consultation Paper on Regulatory Framework for Over-the-top (OTT) services' consultation paper, which is a 117-page document describing what net neutrality in India would mean and how it'll impact the way we consume the Internet today. The deadline for comments is April 24.
On April 6, 2015, Airtel launched its open marketing platform, Airtel Zero, aimed at offering free access only to certain apps. The platform received flak for splitting the Internet into paid and free where Internet companies pay money to Airtel to allow users to get free Internet. While Airtel has widely defended its platform for being akin to the working of a toll-free number, where the caller doesn't pay but the company which uses the marketing tool does.
On April 11, 2015, India's comedy collective, AIB, posted a video on YouTube, decoding Net Neutrality and urging Indian netizens to support the cause and spread the word. The video questions the legitimacy of regulation OTT services based on the 1885 Indian Telegraph Act. It asks Indian netizens to demand for equality and freedom of using the Internet by sending an email to TRAI through www.savetheinternet.in and stop the regulation of the Internet services.
What is your stand in this debate? Do you think net neutrality should stay as it is and allow you to continue using the Internet like you have been from the last 20 years? Or should telecom operators be given opportunities to earn more returns on the investments they have made? Let us know in the comments.
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