Net Neutrality: DoT not in the favour of telcos’ zero rating plans

The Department of Telecom’s report on 'Net Neutrality' has advised the government not to allow the controversial zero rating plans of the telecom companies while proposing that throttling and any sort of prioritization of Internet traffic should be banned.

A senior government official privy to the report told ET: "There should be no paid prioritization which creates discrimination and no degradation of traffic on the internet on the basis of applications, content, services or even the end user."

The six-member committee's report along with the telecom regulator's recommendations will form the final basis of the government's policy on net neutrality, a principle that guarantees consumers equal and non-discriminatory access to all data, apps and services on Internet, with no discrimination on the basis of tariffs or speed.

It was reported in May that the six-member government committee concurred that zero-rating plans which involve commercial arrangements at the back-end violate the idea of net neutrality.

The official added that the government could make an exemption for delivery of essential government services such as education and health which might be delivered on priority.

The report has further indicated that the policy on Net Neutrality must promote competition and encourage startup culture in the country, another official told the financial daily.

It has also stated that ISPs, including telecom operators, should be disallowed from using 'traffic management' as a technique to slow down certain content.

The DoT committee was set up in January 2015. The committee members met more than 45 organisations including Facebook, Google, Flipkart, Amazon, Paytm, Viber and Skype and telecom service providers as well as various public interest groups before submitting its report.

The report comes even as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, after finishing a consultation process, is preparing its own report. The consultation, and launch of Bharti Airtel's Airtel Zero plan — under which certain apps can be accessed by users free of charge, with the app makers paying telco for users' access — caused a furore, especially on social media.

According to the first official, the report has suggested that any policy on Net Neutrality should ensure interconnection between ISPs, cellular providers and app makers as needed and as per rules, and the government should intervene only when needed.

(Image: Indiatimes)