Net Neutrality

The internet has been an extremely useful scientific development for humankind. Today, almost everything depends on internet connectivity – e-mail communication, online education, coaching for competitive exams, smartphone apps, ordering food, app-based transport services, or OTT apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime. So what is net neutrality? For the internet to be useful, it needs to be available to everyone without restrictions. Net neutrality makes the internet and internet-dependent essential services accessible and affordable to all. 

What Is Net Neutrality? 

What is net neutrality? Net neutrality is the principle that internet service providers (ISPs) should provide access to all content and applications on the world wide web, irrespective of the source.

Net neutrality is the concept that dictates internet service providers (ISPs) must treat all internet communications equally, without charging users different rates for website, content, platform, application, type of device used, source address, destination address, or even the method of communication.

Net neutrality means internet users should be free to choose:

• what device do they use to access (phone brand, tablet, desktop)
• Phone or tablet OS-Android or iOS
• Internet service providers (ISPs) provide the facility at home- BSNL, Airtel, Jio, etc.
• Content consumed – whether its educational videos, online mock tests, e-news,
• Speed and connection and data limit – 300Mbps or 25 Mbps speed; 300GB or Unlimited data

Importance of Net Neutrality

In this communication era, understanding what net neutrality is  essential and concerns all users – students, parents, adults, government, and policymakers. Net neutrality is essential for the following:

• It promotes the exchange of knowledge by providing access to online education, news, etc.
• Net neutrality among ISPs creates ethical business practices. 
• It promotes fair competition resulting in affordable internet access. It would prevent ISPs from charging different prices for different qualities of bandwidth. Let’s say there are two students in the same age group but from different financial backgrounds; one would have quality access to their classes while the other would have to endure slow and inefficient internet access.
• ISPs and corporations will not be able to decide which content you can or cannot access.
• Net neutrality prevents the stifling of innovation and removes barriers to entry for smaller companies. If ISPs pick through favouritism and nepotism, new companies and technologies might never be able to grow.

Who Regulates Net Neutrality in India?

Although India is a relatively new entrant to the internet, affordable and cheap data availability and economies of scale have meant internet access is one of the cheapest. From a garbage collector to a company executive, everyone has data access and desires internet connectivity for communication, business, and recreation. The Parliament has constituted the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to promote and regulate the ease of access and availability of the internet. 

It is good to be aware of the attempts to alter or reduce net neutrality by various internet service providers and social networking companies. Some of this may have come under the guise of introducing a new tariff product or plan or providing improved and efficient internet bandwidth. These include the following.

Internet.org and Free Basics – A Case of Violation of Net Neutrality 

Internet.org is a Meta platform (earlier Facebook) led initiative in partnership with six Mobile-IT companies-Samsung, Ericcson, Nokia, Qualcomm, Media Tek, and Opera Software, in 2015. The objective was to bring better and affordable internet services to citizens of less developed countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. It was to be done by improving infrastructure and efficiency and through new business models to administer it. Free Basics was the app to deliver. However, with concerns on internet.org being used to restrict access to only certain ISPs and plans to regulate content, the initiative found limited acceptance. TRAI sought clarifications from Facebook Inc., and following widespread apprehensions expressed by experts and the general public, Facebook withdrew the Free Basics platform from India in 2016. 

Airtel Zero- A Case of Violation of Net Neutrality

Airtel Zero was the platform introduced by India’s leading Mobile Services Provider and Telecom MNC-Bharti Airtel in 2015. It was a platform that Airtel intended to offer free access to certain mobile applications and services. However, this free access to services and Apps was from companies tied up with Airtel. The catch was that users could access them for data to be charged at a different tariff. Faced with a barrage of criticism from Net neutrality supporters, TRAI ruled that content-based differential data tariff goes against net neutrality.

Conclusion

Affordable data charges have been the key to the spread of the internet and digital literacy in India and other developing countries globally. Net neutrality has been the foundation on which the success of several smartphone applications has been built. Although rich telecom and social media services MNCs like Bharti Airtel and Meta (earlier Facebook) attempted so-called affordable services stakeholders deemed acceptable like Airtel zero, Internet.org and Free Basics – a case of violation of net neutrality.