Net neutrality principle says that access to Internet or any Internet-based service should be without any barrier or discrimination. In simple terms, Net Neutrality is the Internet's guiding principle that preserves our right to communicate freely online and users are free to connect to whatever website or service they want.
If there is no net neutrality, ISPs will have the power to shape internet traffic so that they can derive extra benefit from it. It is possible that ISPs will charge from web companies to enable faster access to their websites.
Like few months back Reliance Communications and Uninor have tied up with players like Facebook, WhatsApp and Wikipedia to offer free usage to their customers.
Like recently, Airtel Zero allows customers to access certain apps and websites without paying data charges as long as the makers of those apps and services pay Airtel for this free access, which is against the basic principle of net neutrality.
After Flipkart CEO Sachin Bansal tweeted in support of Airtel Zero has created a social media disaster for the company and several net neutrality supporters, down-vote the Flipkart app on Android to ‘one star’ rating, soon after Flipkart CEO’s tweet.
Recently, US FCC Votes in favour of Net Neutrality to prevent broadband providers from separating online traffic into slow and fast lanes.
We also support the principle of Net Neutrality, it will protect innovation and create a level playing field for the next generation of entrepreneurs and also the concept of net neutrality doesn't exist in India because without net neutrality, we will have to pay some extra amount or tax to ISPs as well.
So Indian Government should do something to protect users freedom or to protect the principle of Net Neutrality and should not allow telecom companies to charge more.
Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Monday that the government has set up a six-member committee comprising Telecom Ministry officials to examine various aspects of Net neutrality and the panel would submit its report by the second week of May. |