Miss Alone
Prime VIP
This is a major victory for every internet user of India.
In a press conference this afternoon, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued the ‘Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016’ that upholds net neutrality.
The chief telecom regulatory body has ruled that:
■ Service providers cannot offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content.
■ A service provider may, however, reduce tariff for accessing or providing emergency services.
■ A penalty of Rs. 50,000 a day will be levied for discriminatory tariffs charged by service providers.
■ TRAI may review these regulations after a period of two years.
The country witnessed one of its most constructive public discourses which was non-violent as well as circumspect. Despite majority of the replies being sent through Facebook there was a considerably large number of replies that came from other forums as well which has not happened before. This consultation paper had one of the largest number of respondents over 24 lakhs which speak volumes about the quality and reach of the net neutrality debate.
