Favours end to free domestic calls over Internet, but won't interfere with other services such as messaging.Girja Shankar Kaura
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 16
The Department of Telecom (DoT)-appointed panel today upheld Net neutrality in the country, saying “the core principles of Net neutrality must be adhered to”.
(Editorial: Net neutrality set to stay)
The panel, in a clear judgement against the telecom companies, also said it aimed at making the Internet free and fair in the country.
While the DoT panel recommendations are not yet binding on any entity, they would come in handy for sector regulator TRAI and the government to come up with norms that would uphold and safeguard Net neutrality.
There is, however, some bad news for subscribers with the panel suggesting end to free regime for domestic calls made through Internet messenger services such as WhatsApp, Viber and Skype.
The committee recommended they be benchmarked against regular telecom service providers for tariff and regulation. It, however, said other communication services offered by them dealing with messaging should not be interfered with through regulation.
“For these application services, there is no case for prescribing regulatory oversight similar to conventional communication services,” it said.
“Under existing telecom licensing conditions, Internet telephony is permitted under restricted conditions. But pricing the arbitrage of OTT (over-the-top) domestic voice communication services has the potential of significantly disrupting existing telecom revenue models,” the panel said.
“OTT application services have been traditionally available in the market for some time and such services enhance consumer welfare and increase productivity. Therefore, such services should be actively encouraged and any impediments in expansion and growth of OTT application services should be removed.”
“The existence of a regulatory arbitrage, in addition to the pricing arbitrage, adds a degree of complexity that requires a graduated and calibrated public policy response to bring about a level playing field,” said the committee that was set up especially to look into the whole issue of Net neutrality. The panel, headed by technocrat AK Bhargava, said the tariff plans must conform to principles of Net neutrality.
