Adithya Vikram
Banned
- Joined
- 13 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 108
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- 108
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked Reliance Communications to stop the Free Basics service of Facebook, at least for some time. "We have asked them (Reliance Communications) to stop it and they have given us a compliance report that it has been stopped," a senior government official told TOI.
Reliance Communications is Facebook's sole telecom partner in India to offer a set of basic internet services free to its subscribers. The service is called Free Basics. Earlier known as internet.org, Free Basics has been criticised by several experts as being against the spirit of net neutrality.
TRAI is yet to form a view whether Free Basics conforms to net neutrality. "The question has arisen whether a telecom operator should be allowed to have differential pricing for different kinds of content. Unless that question is answered, it will not be appropriate for us to continue to make that happen," the source said, in reference to the Facebook-Reliance 'Free Basics' platform.
Net neutrality means Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favouring or blocking particular products or websites.
When contacted, a spokesperson for the mobile operator refused to comment or answer a questionnaire on the subject. A questionnaire to Facebook on the issue also remained unanswered until late night.
However, Reliance Communications is still to pull the Free Basics platform off its services. The Free Basics platform is available to subscribers of the telecom company when they log into the website, leaving a question mark over the compliance to the regulator's order.
Sources said that Reliance had received a communication from TRAI around two weeks back over the issue.
Facebook has also been campaigning for the Free Basics platform very aggressively, especially as TRAI has sought comments for working out recommendations on the differential pricing option. However, there is a stiff resistance building up against its campaigns as activists urge subscribers to oppose the measure while giving comments on Trai's consultation paper.
The Free Basics platform, which has been in place since the middle of 2014, had been initiated by Facebook ostensibly as a philanthropic activity as the social media giant wanted to provide free basic internet connectivity to the unconnected across Asian, African and Latin American regions. The company has partnered more than a dozen mobile operators across 19 countries to provide the free internet platform.
source:-
Put FB's Free Basics service on hold, TRAI tells Reliance Communications - Times of India
TRAI to Reliance Communications: Put Free Basics on hold for now | tech$top | Hindustan Times
Facebook says will work with RCom, Trai to resolve Free Basics issue | Business Standard News
Reliance Communications is Facebook's sole telecom partner in India to offer a set of basic internet services free to its subscribers. The service is called Free Basics. Earlier known as internet.org, Free Basics has been criticised by several experts as being against the spirit of net neutrality.
TRAI is yet to form a view whether Free Basics conforms to net neutrality. "The question has arisen whether a telecom operator should be allowed to have differential pricing for different kinds of content. Unless that question is answered, it will not be appropriate for us to continue to make that happen," the source said, in reference to the Facebook-Reliance 'Free Basics' platform.
Net neutrality means Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favouring or blocking particular products or websites.
When contacted, a spokesperson for the mobile operator refused to comment or answer a questionnaire on the subject. A questionnaire to Facebook on the issue also remained unanswered until late night.
However, Reliance Communications is still to pull the Free Basics platform off its services. The Free Basics platform is available to subscribers of the telecom company when they log into the website, leaving a question mark over the compliance to the regulator's order.
Sources said that Reliance had received a communication from TRAI around two weeks back over the issue.
Facebook has also been campaigning for the Free Basics platform very aggressively, especially as TRAI has sought comments for working out recommendations on the differential pricing option. However, there is a stiff resistance building up against its campaigns as activists urge subscribers to oppose the measure while giving comments on Trai's consultation paper.
The Free Basics platform, which has been in place since the middle of 2014, had been initiated by Facebook ostensibly as a philanthropic activity as the social media giant wanted to provide free basic internet connectivity to the unconnected across Asian, African and Latin American regions. The company has partnered more than a dozen mobile operators across 19 countries to provide the free internet platform.
source:-
Put FB's Free Basics service on hold, TRAI tells Reliance Communications - Times of India
TRAI to Reliance Communications: Put Free Basics on hold for now | tech$top | Hindustan Times
Facebook says will work with RCom, Trai to resolve Free Basics issue | Business Standard News
