TRAI rules in favour of Net neutrality
01:43PM Tue 9 Feb, 2016
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday barred telecom service providers from charging differential rates for data services, effectively prohibiting Facebook’s Free Basics and Airtel Zero platform by Airtel in their current form.
“No service provider shall offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content,” the regulator ruled in its Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016. It said the prohibition was necessary to keep the Internet open and non-discriminatory.
TRAI said a fine of Rs. 50,000 would be levied per day, subject to a maximum of Rs. 50 lakh, for any violation of these regulations by the service providers. An exemption, however, has been made for offering emergency services.
Ruling out case-by-case approval for plans that might be priced differently, the regulator said a clear policy should be formulated.
The Hindu
| 1 | No service provider can offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content. |
| 2 | No service provider shall enter into any arrangement, agreement or contract, by whatever name called, with any person, natural or legal, that the effect of discriminatory tariffs for data services being offered or charged by the service provider for the purpose of evading the prohibition in this regulation. |
| 3 | Reduced tariff for accessing or providing emergency services, or at times of public emergency has been permitted. |
| 4 | Financial disincentives for contravention of the regulation have also been specified |
| 5 | TRAI may review these regulations after a period of two years. |
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