Network neutrality gets a boost with Flipkart calling off talks with Airtel

Via The Hindu Business Line | Apr 15, 2015 |1 Comments

In an unprecedented show of strength, Internet users, online free speech activis
ts and e-commerce companies have united to oppose the might of telecom operators
on the issue of network or Internet neutrality. Over four lakh individuals and
entities have already written to the telecom regulator TRAI asking it to maintai
n the status quo on how Internet services are made available to users. Their cam
paign got a major boost on Tuesday with Flipkart calling off talks with Airtel t
o be part of a plan that offered free data usage to consumers. Called Airtel Zer
o, it allows users to access chat apps, e-commerce sites, gaming portals and oth
er Internet-based services without having to pay for the data usage. Airtel will
collect the data charges from the app service providers. This was criticised by
votaries of net neutrality as giving preferential access to websites that had d
eep pockets. Flipkart was close to signing the deal but the backlash forced it t
o pull out. We exist because of the Internet. We will be walking away from the on
going discussions with Airtel for their platform Airtel Zero. We will be working
towards ensuring that the spirit of net neutrality is upheld and applied equall
y to all companies, Flipkart said in a statement.
On its part, Airtel said it fully supports the concept of Net Neutrality and tha
t its Zero platform was merely an open marketing platform for content providers
to provide toll-free data services. The big challenge for telecom operators is h
ow to recover the crores of rupees spent on buying spectrum and rolling out netw
orks at a time when their revenue streams are under threat. WhatsApp, for exampl
e, has launched a voice calling facility that is sure to hit the mobile operator
s revenue from telephony services. Seven operators, including Bharti Airtel, Voda
fone and Idea Cellular, want the flexibility to offer special plans and data pac
ks. But the fear of a backlash from users is forcing some to change their strate
gy to being seen as pro net neutrality, with caveats. Tata DoCoMo has quietly ro
lled back a plan called Pay Per Site , which offered special tariff plans for speci
fic websites. Facebook s Internet.org initiative has also been questioned for viol
ating net neutrality principles. Facebook has tied up with RCom to offer free ac
cess to select websites. While Facebook says this is a means to provide free Net
access to the hinterland, other Internet companies see it as a violation of net
neutrality.
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1 Response
Sachin Varma
April 15,2015 | 10:29 am
Way to go Consumerism!!
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