Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chief RS Sharma has opined that he is open to the idea of internet content being provided at discounted rates or even free of cost. He cited examples of toll-free phone help lines. This kind of permission to Internet Service Providers and Telecom Operators will enable the regulatory body to look at ways to increase internet access. Sharma said that the proposal is at a consultation stage and it does not violate net neutrality. It is not in variance with TRAI’s February order prohibiting differential tariffs, since the data access has to be open to subscribers of all mobile operators.
The TRAI chairman told Times of India, we have no objection in general if someone decides to provide content free, or at a discounted rate, if the same is made available to subscribers of all mobile operators. These were his first comments on the matter after the regulator floated a consultation paper on the subject of free data earlier this month. TRAI’s new consultation paper had led to uncertain panic among certain net neutrality activists that the regulator may be rethinking on its landmark order on differential tariffs. That particular order had led to the end of zero-rated platforms such as Facebook’s ‘Free Basics’ and ‘Airtel Zero’.
Sharma elaborated on the matter saying, if there is a sale at a shop in Connaught Place, the deal should be open to everybody and not only to a select few, say only to those who enter from a particular road. Similarly, we are making a pitch for a telcoagnostic solution which will make the discounted or free content available to all subscribers and not restrict it to the users of only one mobile service. This has no conflict with the order on discriminatory pricing.
