NET NEUTRALITY REPORT

NET NEUTRALITY REPORT

 A panel led by A K Bhargava has submitted and release its report publically on Net Neutrality this week. This panel was constituted after overwhelming response of people in April on the issue of net neutrality after Bharti Airtel, decided to charge subscribers extra for use of apps such as Skype and Viber last year. The committee has said that it unhesitatingly recommends that the principles of Net Neutrality must be adhered to.

PRINCIPLE OF NET NEUTRILITY

It is the principle that all traffic on the Internet must be treated equally by Internet service providers since all bits of data are equal so no distinction should be made depending on the use or website browsed.

ARGUMENTS

The telecom companies argue that voice call based apps are riding on their networks for free and eating into their business and since these companies are investing millions in spectrum auction and infrastructure development they deserve to get their revenue through charging customers using such free apps.
This if implemented will hamper the very concept of net neutrality as the internet will become bias with the website using voice protocol. On the other hand ,those against this reason points out that since these voice calling apps like Skype and Viber consumes large bits of data  and the telecom companies already charge customers on the basis of data consumed they are already being given their share of profit indirectly so the logic of charging more is absurd.

WHAT DOES REPORT SAYS

1) There is no change in the messaging application and the companies can’t be allowed to regulate them.

2) At the same time committee also okayed the imposition of some regulations on the voice calling services.

3) However it is not clear as to how the distinction will be made as now same services ex. Whatsapp can be used for messaging as well as calls.

4) Tariff shall be monitored by the TRAI to ensure net neutrality.

5) Committee  has not made any recommendation on the search engine result neutrality that demands results on the basis of relevance and not on the editorial decision but admitted it to be as a concern.

6) After the committee submits it report final decision will be taken by TRAI.

Author: Palak Tiwari, a freelancer writer based in Kanpur