The Return of the Net Neutrality Debate in India

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Who are Different Stakeholders in the Internet Space?
• What is Net Neutrality?
• What will happen if there is no Net Neutrality?
• How is Net Neutrality Regulated?
• Will the Concept of Net Neutrality Survive?

 

Why in News?

• Since November 2022, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents major telecom operators in India, has been demanding that platforms such as YouTube and WhatsApp pay a share of revenue to make up for the network costs.
• In an immediate response to this demand, the Broadband India Forum (BIF), which represents Internet firms such as Meta and Google, wrote a letter to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) rebutting the COAI’s demands.
• This has reignited the debate around Net Neutrality.

 

Who are Different Stakeholders in the Internet Space?

• To understand the concept of net neutrality, it is important to note the four different kinds of stakeholders in the internet space that may be affected by the issue.
• They are –
  1. Consumers of any internet service,
  2. Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) or Internet Service Providers (ISPs),
  3. Over-the-top (OTT) service providers (those who provide internet access services such as websites and applications), and
  4. Government, who may regulate and define relationships between these players.
• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is an independent regulator in the telecom sector, which mainly regulates TSPs and their licensing conditions, etc.

 

What is Net Neutrality?

• The principle of net neutrality states that internet users should be able to access all content on the internet without being discriminated by TSPs. 
• This means that –
  • All websites or applications should be treated equally by TSPs,
  • All applications should be allowed to be accessed at the same internet speed, and
  • All applications should be accessible for the same cost.
• Net neutrality argues that the internet should be accessible to everyone and requires all ISPs to provide the same level of data access and speed to all traffic.
• Traffic to one service or website cannot be blocked or degraded.

 

What will happen if there is no Net Neutrality?

• If there no net neutrality, ISPs will have the power (and inclination) to shape internet traffic so that they can derive extra benefit from it.
• For example, several ISPs believe that they should be allowed to charge companies for services like YouTube and Netflix because these services consume more bandwidth compared to a normal website.
  • Basically, these ISPs want a share in the money that YouTube or Netflix make.
• Without net neutrality, the internet as we know it will not exist. Instead of free access, there could be “package plans“ for consumers.
• For example, if you pay Rs 500, you will only be able to access websites based in India. To access international websites, you may have to pay a more. Or maybe there can be different connection speed for different type of content, depending on how much you are paying for the service and what “add-on package” you have bought.
• Instead of an open and free internet, without net neutrality, we are likely to get a web that has silos in it and to enter each silo, you will have to pay some “tax” to ISPs.

 

How is Net Neutrality Regulated?

• Until now, net neutrality has not directly been regulated in India by any law or policy framework. Earlier, in 2016, the TRAI had ruled in favour of net neutrality. 
• However, despite lack of formal rules, ISPs in India mostly adhere to the principal of net neutrality.
• There have been some incidents where Indian ISPs have ignored net neutrality but these are few and far between.
• Internationally, countries like the USA, Japan, Brazil, Chile, Norway, etc. have some form of law, order or regulatory framework in place that affects net neutrality. 
• The US Federal Communications Commission (telecom regulator in the USA) released new internet rules in March 2015, which mainly disallow blocking, throttling or slowing down, and paid prioritisation of certain applications over others.
• While the UK does not allow blocking or throttling of OTT services, it allows price discrimination.

 

Will the Concept of Net Neutrality Survive?

• Net neutrality is sort of gentlemen’s agreement. It has survived so far because few people realized the potential of internet when it took off around 30 years ago.
• But now when the internet is an integral part of the society and incredibly important, ISPs across the world are trying to get the power to shape and control the traffic.
• However, there are ways to keep net neutrality alive –
  • Consumers should demand that ISPs continue their hands-off approach from the internet traffic.
  • If consumers see a violation of net neutrality, they ought to take a proactive approach and register their displeasure with the ISP.
  • They should also reward ISPs that uphold the net neutrality.
  • Meanwhile, TRAI needs to establish a set of clear and precise rules that protect the net neutrality.
• These are early days so it is easy to do. If ISPs manage to change the system, it may become too late.

 

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Q1) What is the present status of Internet in India?

By the end of 2022, India had more than 450 million internet users. India is the second-largest internet market after China.

 

Q2) What is Internet of Things (IoT)?

The Internet of things describes physical objects with sensors, processing ability, software and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet or other communications networks.

 

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Source: The Return of the Net Neutrality Debate in India | PRS