A high-level government committee has upheld the concept of net neutrality, but its recommendations have raised some major concerns for consumers and start-ups. Those hooked to applications like WhatsApp, Skype and Viber may no longer be able to make free domestic calls (barring negligible data charges) through these internet telephony services. However, instant messaging and international calls through these services will remain free, if these suggestions are implemented.
Another suggestion by the committee - that zero-rating platforms be treated on a case-by-case basis and clearance sought from the telecom regulator - opens up the worrying possibility of discrimination in favour of established, cash-rich app providers.
This could potentially stifle innovation and kill the burgeoning start-up culture in the country. On the positive side, it did not recommend any regulatory controls for fast-growing over-the-top (OTT) services that deliver varied internet applications.
The committee points out that "India is the land of the Buddha, who preached the middle path". But in its effort to follow his philosophy, the report may end up satisfying nobody - something the six-member DoT panel is probably aware of. So, the over 100-page report says, "The committee unhesitatingly recommends that the core principles of net neutrality must be adhered to", but then qualifies. "Clearly, the debate on Net Neutrality is multi-dimensional and solution to this cannot therefore be uni-dimensional."
In a major dampener for consumers, the report calls for VoIP services to be licenced in the same way as mobile operators are. This could mean that such service providers will eventually have to pay a licence fee, which could force them to start charging customers money for use of their services.
The logic given by the committee is that calls made through the internet (through services such as Viber, Skype and WhatsApp), are nearly six times cheaper than those made through a conventional mobile network. Also, it claims that internet telephony players enjoy a regulatory arbitrage as they do not have to comply with licencing conditions and fee such as those mandated on telecom operators such as Airtel, Vodafone or Idea Cellular.
http://m.timesofindia.com/tech/tech-news/Local-WhatsApp-Viber-Skype-calls-may-no-longer-be-free/articleshow/48105069.cms
Another suggestion by the committee - that zero-rating platforms be treated on a case-by-case basis and clearance sought from the telecom regulator - opens up the worrying possibility of discrimination in favour of established, cash-rich app providers.
This could potentially stifle innovation and kill the burgeoning start-up culture in the country. On the positive side, it did not recommend any regulatory controls for fast-growing over-the-top (OTT) services that deliver varied internet applications.
The committee points out that "India is the land of the Buddha, who preached the middle path". But in its effort to follow his philosophy, the report may end up satisfying nobody - something the six-member DoT panel is probably aware of. So, the over 100-page report says, "The committee unhesitatingly recommends that the core principles of net neutrality must be adhered to", but then qualifies. "Clearly, the debate on Net Neutrality is multi-dimensional and solution to this cannot therefore be uni-dimensional."
In a major dampener for consumers, the report calls for VoIP services to be licenced in the same way as mobile operators are. This could mean that such service providers will eventually have to pay a licence fee, which could force them to start charging customers money for use of their services.
The logic given by the committee is that calls made through the internet (through services such as Viber, Skype and WhatsApp), are nearly six times cheaper than those made through a conventional mobile network. Also, it claims that internet telephony players enjoy a regulatory arbitrage as they do not have to comply with licencing conditions and fee such as those mandated on telecom operators such as Airtel, Vodafone or Idea Cellular.
http://m.timesofindia.com/tech/tech-news/Local-WhatsApp-Viber-Skype-calls-may-no-longer-be-free/articleshow/48105069.cms
