TRAI backs net neutrality, rejects differential pricing

Service providers can provide some content for free or on reduced tariff during “grave emergencies” like Chennai floods

taru

Taru Bhatia | February 8, 2016 | New Delhi




Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday took stand for network neutrality and ruled out any content discrimination on the basis of differential pricing or speed by telecom and internet service provider. 

Exercising its power under section 3 of TRAI Act 1997, the regulator has disallowed content discrimination by service providers under the new regulation called Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016. Content including applications, services and any other data including its end-point information that can be accessed or transmitted over internet, shall be accessed equally by consumers without paying extra or less for some.

“Everything on internet is subject to regulation,” said TRAI chairman RS Sharma addressing media on Monday.  The clauses in the regulation allow the regulator to intervene in the matter of violation.

TSPs or ISPs failing to fall in the line will be charged Rs 50, 000 a day by TRAI, the chairman said. The penalty can go up to Rs 50 lakh, as per the new regulation.

However, TRAI made an exception in cases of “grave emergencies” for service providers to provide emergency content to its users for free or on reduced tariff. “In situations of grave emergencies like Chennai floods, service providers can provide some content for free of cost or on reduced tariff which will be taken as exceptional cases,” Sharma said, adding that TSPs or ISPs have to notify TRAI within seven days after implementing such services.

Active services under zero-rating plan that come under the definition of differential pricing, a violation of net neutrality, will be allowed to continue until its expiry date, Sharma highlighted, adding that TSPs will be given six-month time to wind-up their services that falls under  zero-rating plan.

TSPs, including Aitel and Reliance Jio, that came up with zero-rating plans in India stirred debate of net neutrality. It was contested by the supporters of net neutrality that zero-rating plan violates internet freedom for users to access all content equally at any network, without paying extra for some. Moreover, the new or small content providers will be throttled by big players which can afford to subsidise its content to users, claims the supporters.

However, telcos, along with Facebook with its Digital Equality campaign, pushed for Free Basics saying such services will allow disconnected population to come on board through free content medium.

The new regulation will be experimented by TRAI to review its development to make necessary amendments in future.

 

Comments

 

Other News

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana completes first year

On February 13, 2025, the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) will mark its first anniversary, celebrating a year of empowering households with affordable solar energy and accelerating India’s transition to a sustainable future. Launched by prime minister Narendra Modi on Febru

How to leverage AI to solve urgent global issues

The world seems to be hurling towards World War III in all the possible scenarios: hot war, cold war, and proxy war. The battleground seems to have expanded beyond physical to digital or virtual/mixed reality with technology like drones. Moreover, the line between civilian and military targets seems to hav

Budget: Progress towards SDGs and areas for improvement

The Union Budget 2025-26 outlines India`s vision for economic and social growth while also reflecting the country`s commitment to sustainable development. As India moves closer to the 2030 deadline for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this budget presents a balanced approach

Repo rate cut by 25 basis points to 6.25%

The Reserve Bank of India has, for the first time in five years, reduced the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points to 6.25% with immediate effect. Consequently, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate will stand adjusted to 6.00% and the marginal

Amitav Ghosh’s new work: Connections between the word and the world

Wild Fictions: Essays By Amitav Ghosh HarperCollins, 496 pages, Rs 799.00 Amitav Ghosh, one of a handful of Ind

How markets can help (and also hinder) fight against pollution

In the annals of environmental policy, few ideas have been as transformative as the Emissions Trading System (ETS). Born from the minds of economists in the late 1960s, this market-based approach to pollution control has evolved from a theoretical concept to a global tool in the fight against climate chang

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now



Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter