Ritu Singh
In the last few days, you might have come across the term 'Net neutrality' on a lot of Internet portals. Well, it's not just another technical jargon doing the rounds of Internet like other non-sensical stuff, but a significant event which will change the way you use Internet forever. Besides this, it is sure to burn a hole in your pocket.
Till now you have enjoyed the Internet the way it's supposed to be. But in a few days, the telecom regulators in India are ready to unleash the horror.
The telcos now want to charge for the Internet differently, based on how you use it. Internet being the backbone of 21st century, the clamour for open internet is the need for today.
What is Net Neutrality:
Net neutrality is one of the biggest issue debated globally by the telecom regulators and TRAI is also in the process of finalising what will be a landmark recommendation for Indian telecom.
The important aspects of Net neutrality are:
- Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source.
- The Internet service provider from whom you buy your internet pack, should not under any circumstance be able to control how exactly you use it and it's upto you how you use the data.
- All websites can co-exist without hampering others and all websites are accessible at the same speed and no particular website of application is favoured.
- All web sites and content creators are treated equal, and you don’t have to pay extra for faster Internet speed to a particular site/service.
How will it affect you?
In India, the concept of net neutrality doesn’t exist legally but most companies have adhered to it until now. With the Internet taking the world into its folds, Internet Service Providers across the world are trying to encash this potent commodity and trying to control the traffic.
Telecom operators have lobbied ( especially Airtel and Vodafone) and gone to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to allow them to block apps and websites and charge money from both consumers and businesses i.e they will get the license to violate net neutrality.
The absence of Net neutrality will change the way you know Internet now and your freedom will be at stake.
Without it, it would mean that Internet Service Providers will be able to charge companies which consume more bandwidth (for e.g YouTube) and that extra charge will be directed to you. Also, you won't be able to access other websites at the same speed unless you pay an additional sum else face the torture of a slow internet. For e.g big companies like Google will be able to pay more to make access to Youtube or Google+ faster for web users but a startup may not be able to do that which is sure to shatter entrepreneurial aspirations of millions. The telcos will derive huge profits out of it while the rights of consumers will be compromised.
Here's what you can do:
People from all over India have raised their voices to keep Net neutrality alive and now it's your turn too.
TRAI on March 27 put up a consultation paper on its website asking users to give their views on net neutrality in India. The last day for netizens to send their views to Trai on the subject is April 24. Indians have sent over 1 lakh emails to TRAI over the issue through the website savetheinternet.in. Let TRAI know that you need Net neutrality and defend the Internet freedom.
You could also sign this petition over at https://www.change.org/p/rsprasad-trai-don-t-allow-differential-pricing-... and share it with your friends.
Write directly to TRAI at advqos@trai.gov.in" about what you think about this issue.
So this is your time, raise your voice against it before it's too late.
