Indian broadcasters welcome net neutrality move


Details

Rebecca Hawkes

| 10 February 2016




India’s broadcasters have welcomed new rules to stop Internet service providers (ISPs) from imposing different pricing policies for accessing different parts of the Web.



Major broadcasters including Star India, Sony Pictures Networks India and Zee had contributed to last year’s consultation on over-the-top (OTT) services by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in favour of ‘net neutrality’.

Following the announcement, Girish Srivastava, secretary general, Indian Broadcasting Federation (IBF, said: “The broadcasting industry is appreciative of TRAI’s decision to rule out differential pricing. IBF has earlier opposed differential pricing terming it to be ‘non-competitive’.

“In our opinion, TRAI’s regulation on prohibiting differential pricing constitutes a milestone as it was against the basic principle of Internet access as no private player should have the power and right to decide which information can be accessed and which is less easily available,” Srivastava added.

Announcing the decision on 8 February, Ram Sevak Sharma, TRAI chairman, said: “Essentially everything on the Internet is agnostic in the sense that it cannot be priced differently.”

The move has, however, caused a setback for Facebook’s Internet.org initiative to provide basic Internet services to all. Internet.org extends networks through solar-powered planes, satellites and lasers, providing free data access through its Free Basics programme, reducing data use through apps, and empowering local entrepreneurs through Express Wi-Fi.

“While we're disappointed ... I want to personally communicate that we are committed to keep working to break down barriers to connectivity in India and around the world. Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the Internet,” said Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook.

In India only 252 million people out of a population of 1.3 billion have Internet access.

“Connecting India is an important goal we won’t give up on, because more than a billion people in India don't have access to the Internet. We know that connecting them can help lift people out of poverty, create millions of jobs and spread education opportunities,” added Zuckerberg.

Critics argue that allowing free access to a selection of apps and Web services would disadvantage small content providers and start-ups that are not involved in such initiatives.