Internet Shutdowns Costing Telecom Operators Crores in Lost Revenue

[iDJ]

Mobile operators are losing around Rs. 2.45 crores ($350,000) in revenue every hour they are forced to suspend Internet services on government orders to control protests against a new citizenship law, a top lobby group said on Friday. Countrywide protests have raged for three weeks after parliament passed legislation which gives minorities from neighbouring Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh a path to citizenship but excludes Muslims. That, coupled with a plan for a national register of citizens, are seen by critics as anti-Muslim moves by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

To quell protests, government has deployed thousands of police as well intermittently ordered mobile data shutdowns at a time people have used social media such as Instagram and TikTok to wage a parallel battle online. Such Internet suspensions have been criticised by Internet freedom activists.

Internet Shutdowns Costing Telecom Operators Crores in Lost Revenue

 

[iDJ]

I hope someone in the forum highlights how operators are losing. Due to price hike most users already recharged in advance for a year. I think recharge revenue shouldn't be heavily affected because of 2-3 days internet ban.

 

[greylala91]

Not sure how its impacting revenue. There are no "everyday recharges" anymore. People tend to recharge for at least 28 days in advance. The fraction of people delaying recharge on the basis of shutdown must be very low. The impact is actually more on SMEs who are heavily dependent on internet for running their businesses

 

[iDJ]

Not sure how its impacting revenue. There are no "everyday recharges" anymore. People tend to recharge for at least 28 days in advance. The fraction of people delaying recharge on the basis of shutdown must be very low. The impact is actually more on SMEs who are heavily dependent on internet for running their businesses

Which is true as CAB drivers and Restuarants faced heavy losses during 10 day ban here.

@Sparker0i bro.
Can we have a sim tool kit like thing? That lets us order cabs and food during internet bans.

 

[DTH Fan]

Instead of blocking and banning whole Internet, government should ask operators to block only social networking apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Blocking whole Internet causes problems to lots of people who are running business or whose whole work requires Internet connectivity.

 

[anandbb]

Don't know how operators are losing money

 

[iDJ]

Instead of blocking and banning whole Internet, government should ask operators to block only social networking apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Blocking whole Internet causes problems to lots of people who are running business or whose whole work requires Internet connectivity.

These websites blocks can be bypass using VPN. There are even apps that allows to use whatsapp like chatting services using bluetooth. So banning internet isn't even a solution. Post will be collected and posted later anyway. It's proper moderatorion by cops that can help. You block internet. PUBG playing and Facebook loving youths will go out to protest as they would have nothing else to do.

 

[anandbb]

PUBG playing and Facebook loving youths will go out to protest as they would have nothing else to do.

Lol

 

[iDJ]

Lol

This is 100% true. Access to Internet is a human right. Most people no longer buys encyclopedias and dictionaries. In the age of Google and Wikipedia. You don't need it. All of the sudden internet is ban. What are you supposed to do?

 

[anandbb]

This is 100% true. Access to Internet is a human right. Most people no longer buys encyclopedias and dictionaries. In the age of Google and Wikipedia. You don't need it. All of the sudden internet is ban. What are you supposed to do?

Is internet ban violation of our rights? Can we appeal to courts if this happen again.