Net Neutrality

Net neutrality is the principle, that internet service providers and governments should treat all the data on the internet equally without discriminating or charging the users on the basis of the content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or mode of communication.

This term was first coined by Columbia university media law professor Tim Wu in 2003, as an extension of the longstanding concept of a common carrier.

Net neutrality is the name of the movement to keep the Internet “free and open”.

Origin of Net Neutrality

As of April 2015, there were no laws

governing net neutrality in India, which would

require that all Internet users be treated equally.

The debate on net neutrality in India gathered

public attention after Airtel, announced in

December 2014 to levy additional charges for

making voice calls (VoIP) from its network using

apps like WhatsApp, Skype etc.

Effects on Business

Internet providers are claiming that their

return on investment is not enough as

compared to investments made.

They are saying that the OTT(Over the Top)

services are eating up their revenues

So, they are finding alternatives to increase

their profits.

For this they want to introduce fast lane and

slow lane.

This means the public has to pay for every

service they want if the OTT player does not

pay to the service provider.

The argument that the service providers are

not earning is completely wrong as we can

see that revenues and profits are increasing

continuously and more and more number of

people are getting connected.

How The Internet Is Today?

How The TSP’S Wanted It

To Be?

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WEEKDAYS

+69 INTERNET

MESSAGES+79

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How The Internet Should

Be?

Role of Government

TRAI(Telecom Regulatory Authority Of India)

published a 108 page consultation paper

which says that telecom operators will be

allowed to charge on over the top

services(OTT) if there is no issue coming up

from the public till 24th of June.

It seems very clearly that TRAI is being

biased towards the business not

understanding the consequences in the long

term.

Effect on Society

Internet is the only platform currently which is

absolutely unbiased and most easily

accessible.

But if there is no net neutrality than the

service providers would only favor the ones

having deep pockets and current startups

scenario could no longer exist.

AIB, aYoutube channel, made a video on it to

provide understanding and awareness to the

public and has helped send around two

million emails to TRAI.

Net Neutrality Initiative

-Save the internet(www.savetheinternet.in) is

an Indian website made for the battle against the

discrimination of the internet.

-On 11 April 2015, a YouTube comedy channel A

I B uploaded a video titled "Save The Internet"

which urged people to email TRAI demanding

net neutrality

-On 23 April 2015, various organizations under

the ambit of Free Software Movement of

India organized protests in various cities across

India.

-The Cellular Operators Association of

India (COAI) soon afterwards launched a

counter campaign called Sabka Internet, Sab ka

Vikas.

Pros :

Without net neutrality, it would be very easy

for ISPs to mould the browsing habits of its

users with the help of pricing slabs, different

speeds for different sites and other methods.

Net neutrality also ensures that small, new

companies can compete against established

big names on the Internet fairly.

An ISP will get money from companies, that

relationship may be enough to compel the ISP

to mute online criticism against one of its

paying partners.

Internet becomes a stratified mess and you

will be forced to choose packages of websites

and services like you do with your DTH

subscription.

Cons:

-TRAI recently published a consultation paper

that almost exclusively focuses on how many

VoIP services, apps and websites are taking

undue advantage of the infrastructure set up

by telcos who spent bucket loads of money

setting it all up

- Telcos claim that without earning revenue

from VoIP services and websites like

YouTube, they will be forced to either pass on

huge costs to the consumer or to accept

massive losses.

ISPs argue that they can increase the

overall efficiency of their networks if they are

allowed to ‘actively’ manage them.

ISPs also argue that adopting a blanket net

neutrality policy will give rise to security

risks and increase piracy and cyber crime.

One of the more ideological arguments

against net neutrality is that it will give too

much power to the government

organization that will be responsible for

enforcing net neutrality.

Spoofs

What we should demand as

Indian citizens ?

-Freedom: we should be able to access information on the terms we choose and not to be pushed into consumer decisions by large telecom companies.

-If there is violation of net neutrality, we must take a proactive approach.

-They should also reward ISPs that uphold the net neutrality.

“More than any other

invention of our time, the

Internet has unlocked

possibilities we could just

barely imagine a generation

ago. It connects millions of

people worldwide.”

SAVE THE

WORLD

THANK YOU