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Mechanisms for establishing rules ensuring net neutrality in India, are at present mainly enforced by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). At present, there are no specific legislation regarding Net Neutrality in India.
On 12 July 2018, The Department of Telecommunications made rules, approving the recommendations from TRAI, which heavily favoured net neutrality in India.[1] These rules barred any form of data discrimination. Internet service providers which violate these rules may have their licenses cancelled. The rules make an exception for "critical IoT services" or "specialized services" such as autonomous vehicles and remote surgery operations.[2]
The debate on network neutrality in India gained public attention in December 2014, after Airtel, a mobile telephony service provider in India, announced additional charges for making voice calls (VoIP) from its network using apps like WhatsApp, Skype, etc.[3] More recently, the spectacular rise of Reliance Jio and the reduction in the total number of Internet service providers to three has raised concerns regarding the market moving towards a monopoly. Such a transformation could have serious implications for net neutrality in the country. [4]
In March 2015, TRAI released a formal consultation paper on Regulatory Framework for Over-the-top (OTT) services, seeking comments from the public.[5] The consultation paper was criticised for being one sided and having confusing statements. It received condemnation from various politicians and Indian Internet users.[6][7][8] The last date for submission of comment was 24 April 2015 and TRAI received over a million emails.[9]
On 8 February 2016, TRAI passed the "Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016", prohibiting telecom service providers from levying discriminatory rates for data.[10] This move was welcomed by millions of Indians and also by people from other countries who are fighting or fought for net neutrality ,[11] and the inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners Lee.
- ^ "India Approves New Net Neutrality Rules, Signs off on New Telecom Policy". The Wire. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
- ^ "Internet to remain free and fair in India: Govt approves net neutrality - Times of India ►". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Net neutrality?was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Block, Daniel. "Data Plans: How government decisions are helping Reliance Jio monopolise the telecom sector". The Caravan Magazine. Delhi Press. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- ^ "Consultation Paper On Regulatory Framework for Over-the-top (OTT) services" (PDF).
- ^ Singh, Saurabh (8 April 2015). "Politicos slam TRAI's stance on net neutrality". India Today. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ^ Gandhi, Rajat (8 April 2015). "Net neutrality: Why Internet is in danger of being shackled". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ^ "Indians rally for Internet freedom, send over 1 lakh emails to TRAI for net neutrality". IBNLive. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ "Trai publishes email IDs of netizens, site hacked". Deccan Chronicle. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- ^ "Regulation Data Service" (PDF). 8 February 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ^ "Industry welcomes TRAI decision". 8 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.