New Delhi : As the uproar continues in favour of Net Neutrality, telecom watchdog Trai Chairman Rahul Khullar said “shrill voices” will not win the debate and the concept is not “practiced strictly” even in countries like the US and the UK.
The principle of Net Neutrality calls for equal treatment to be accorded to all Internet traffic, without discrimination or priority for any person, entity or company.
While Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has floated a discussion paper on this topic, a raging debate has broken out in the country following the launch of platforms like Airtel Zero and internet.org.
“There has to be democratic debate. It’s a debate that is waiting to happen. Shrill voices do not win debate. Cool headed reasoned arguments on both sides are need of the hour,” Khullar told PTI in an interview. “There are different practices in different jurisdictions. UK and parts of Europe do not practice strict net-neutrality. Even in US zero rating plans are permissible,” he said, while replying to a question on whether India was in a position to align with the global net-neutrality principles.
In response to its paper, for which public comments have been sought till April 24, Trai has already been flooded with over 8 lakh petitions against any attempt to throttle ‘net neutrality’ concept.
“Both sides have their argument. We have consultation process running. Let everybody’s comment come in place, then we will decide further course of action,” Khullar said.
The debate had begun after telecom major Airtel decided to charge separately for Internet-based phone calls in December, which it had to later withdraw.
Telecom operators have argued that Over-The-Top service providers like WhatsApp and Skype are eating into their revenues without making investment in networks which is key to providing connectivity to masses.
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Cellular operators reaffirm support for net neutrality
New Delhi : Industrial body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) reaffirmed its support for ‘net neutrality’, but also made a strong pitch for ‘net equality’ that will enable access to Internet for a billion Indians as part of the governments digital India vision,
reports PTI.
In a statement on Sunday, COAI urged all stakeholders in net neutrality to have a comprehensive and informed debate on the subject, keeping in mind the requirements of India and its citizens.
Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg of Internet.org — a platform with Reliance Communications as its India partner and which offers free access to data — and Bharti Airtel, whose Airtel Zero venture was also drawn into the debate, have both said they are completely committed to net neutrality.
The association made a strong pitch for ‘net equality’ that will enable access to the Internet for a billion Indians as part of the government’s Digital India vision.
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