Trai backs net neutrality, rules against differential pricing for Internet services

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swatkats

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India’s telecom regulator on Monday ruled against differential pricing for Internet services, in a setback to Facebook Inc.’s plan to roll out free Internet to the masses in Asia’s third-largest economy.

"No service provider shall offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for data services on basis of content," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said in a statement.

Trai said that no service provider shall enter into any arrangement, agreement or contract,that has effect of discriminatory tariffs for data services being offered on basis of content. This in effect disallows subsidised data packages that offer access to only a select services, such as Whatsapp or Twitter, packages which are currently offered by various telcos to attract subscribers.

However, the regulation will not apply to tariffs for data services over closed communication networks, unless tariffs offered evade prohibition of this regulation.

"Only exemption - tariffs may be reduced for accessing emergency services or at times of public emergency," Trai said, adding that in such a case, tariff should be reported to Trai within seven working days from date of implementation of the order.

Trai added that a penalty of Rs 50,000 a day, capped at Rs 50 lakh, will be levied on service providers violating the rule and the authority may review these regulations after two years from the day the rules come into effect.

Trai also gave service providers six months to comply with the new rules.

http://telecom.economictimes.indiat...ifferential-pricing-of-data-services/50899934



Free Basics, Whatsapp Pack, Facebook Pack, Twitter Pack,VoIP Pack..
Click to expand...
RIP
 
Here's the tricky part..


“Net neutrality is a larger question, and we have not gone into that question, though, I must admit, differential pricing is looking at Net neutrality from a tariff perspective. Net neutrality has a number of other components which is fast lane, throttling and differentially treating the packet in terms of speed etc. So this is not a part of this regulation,” Sharma said.

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/du...from-charging-or-offering-data-traffic-o.html

Please welcome Fast lanes and throttling now.
 
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PHOENiX117 said:
I though Some internet is better than NO internet?
Click to expand...
rule number one in life = there are no free lunches.
to compensate for the free bandwidth they will raise standard data rates/ or start doing what verizon does and inject code that spoofs certification and then force spams you.
the problem with this in the long term is that this pushes the true and full internet experience further out of the reach of the poor.
basically facebook is attempting to create a submarket of poor people whose online experience will be facebook controlled even outside of facebook.
think of all the ads and privacy violations of facebook and now imagine that spread across your entire online experience.
they will thus divide internet access into two ways - one for the rich who can pay 250+ per gb of data and a poor mans internet full of spam/ads/abusing your privacy and browsing habits.
facebook is heavily relying on ignorance to promote free basics.
 
PHOENiX117 said:
So Free basics will cease? I though Some internet is better than NO internet?
Click to expand...

"If you're not paying for the product, you are the product"

No internet is better than a facebook/ISP monopoly and endless exploitation of whatever user data they get their hands on.

Edit I am pleasantly surprised that this went through. Honestly speaking I didnt think it had a hope in hell. Facebook were too scared to pay a bribe?? :p
 
"TRAI to turn focus on throttling and fast lanes."
http://economictimes.com/opinion/in...s-rs-sharma-chairman/articleshow/50926332.cms
I appreciate that TRAI is taking measures and I know that TRAI is taking one step at a time in this but why haven't they address issues related to "FUP" and "512kbps" broadband till now? I really wish they do something about those problems. Its ironic because our PM, on the other hand, is heavily promoting "Digital India." :/

Edit: before some smartass reply back with "Digital India doesn't necessarily mean fast BB/FUP-free.
 
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RCOM is offering HD app-to-app calling at an introductory price of just Rs 39 for 300 minutes of voice calls within India, and anywhere in the world.

With next generation app-to-app calling, customers will experience significantly better app-to-app voice calls with high-definition (HD) quality and instant connections," the Anil Ambani-owned telco said in a statement.

The service, according to it, will be available on 4G LTE network in the 850 MHz spectrum band which is recognized as the most optimal frequency for voice and data services.
The plan will allow RCOM's subscribers to make calls worldwide through various data-based apps that include WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Google Hangouts, Viber and JioChat.

http://telecom.economictimes.indiat...alls-on-rcom-network-with-rs-39-plan/53738548


Within 6 months of the rule, here comes the first violation.
 
First RCOM tried to bring in internet.org/Free Basics and now they have resorted to selling whatsapp and other VOIP minutes(LOL). Should get struck down as clear violation of TRAI Net Neutrality rules but i guess RCOM assumes nobody will notice it or complain about it.
 
Why are voice calls called 'high definition'? Are they video calls where we can see the other person like on Skype? Voice only calls should be termed 'high clarity' or 'hi-fidelity' calls. Wonder who used the wrong term in their marketing Dept. The company looks like a doofus now.
 
If they were using their own app, then it would not have been a violation, as they are charging for calling, not access. Well, lets hope they get hit hard and fast.

^ Its about codecs. You can assume that earlier we were using AMR codec and then switched to MP3 64Kbps, then to AAC 96Kbps.
 
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