TRAI supports net neutrality

The apex authority on telecom services in India has recommended that the terms of various license agreements governing the provision of Internet services in India need to be amended to incorporate the principles of non-discriminatory treatment, that is, net neutrality of content, albeit with some exceptions.

In principle, net neutrality requires that all Internet users be treated equally by the service provider, without discriminating or charging differentially depending on the type of user, site accessed etc.

Net neutrality advocates have a view that pre-installed apps in Reliance's JioPhones offering, which is also excepted to bar the consumers from installing competing apps, might in principle violate net neutrality.

TRAI calls for clauses which bar services providers from providing internet services that shall engage in any discriminatory treatment of content, and prohibits them from entering into any arrangement, agreement or contract, with any person that has the effect of discriminatory treatment of content. However, TRAI has explicitly excluded any specialized services from the principle of non-discrimination.

The telecom authority believes that these recommendations will help build uniformity in the terms governing the provision of Internet services by different categories of licensees.

Among telecom stocks, Reliance Industries was trading at Rs. 942.00 per share, down by 0.92 per cent, Idea Cellular was at Rs. 96.00, down by 0.26 per cent, Bharti Airtel was at Rs. 493.55, down 0.92 per cent at 13:13 hours on Tuesday.