Never before has an open and innovative platform like Airtel Zero been on offer that will help drive internet adoption through free usage (and companies and app developers being an equal partner in the process), says Srini Gopalan.
Is the Airtel Zero plan really a big blow for net neutrality? Will it end the 'free' internet as we know it? Amidst the hullaballoo over the issue, Sudhir Bisht provides a contrarian view.
Trai has invited comments till January 7 on its paper on differential data pricing.
Flipkart may walk away from ongoing discussions with telecom service provider Airtel for their platform 'Airtel Zero'.
The DoT report is expected by the end of the month.
The debate on net neutrality has turned into another fight between ordinary folks and a large corporation.
Company has already reached out to its customers and employees
Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal on Friday took pot shots at Snapdeal saying India should not be blamed for the latter's failure to hire "great engineers".
As the TRAI imposed deadline ends on April 24, Rediff Chat will host a series of net activists and experts to explain the issues involved, what is at stake here, and why net neutrality needs to be an article of faith if the dream of Digital India is to be realised.
Trai chairman Rahul Khullar says concept not practised strictly even in countries like the US and the UK.
Internet.org is a Facebook-led initiative
There has been a huge controversy over the Net neutrality issue.
This puts an end to Facebook's Free Basics and Airtel's zero rating plans in India.
Issuing its recommendations on Net neutrality, Trai has also suggested a multi-stakeholder body comprising telecom and Internet service providers, content providers, civil society organisation and consumer representatives for monitoring and investigation of violations.
'Where will the next 200 million users that will come online in India prefer to go? Will they buy a data pack, or will they use the free Internet?' 'What will happen when most of the Internet in India is inside a walled garden?'
A DoT panel has backed net neutrality and made some recommendations to push the cause
Nasscom recommended that there should be 'no double dipping'.
A government panel on Net neutrality has proposed to regulate domestic calls made using Internet-based calling applications such as Skype, WhatsApp and Viber at par with phone call services offered by telecom operators.
An open and free internet is a key contributing factor to innovation in the digital economy.
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Operators have invested billions of dollars in licence and spectrum.
The company roped in Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador in March.
Zuckerberg says internet.org can co-exist with net neutrality
DoT will have wider consultations with all stakeholders.
This will be in line with government's vision of Digital India.
Of late, net neutrality has generated much debate.
Airtel Zero launched with the promise of free access to apps.
TRAI said that Internet service providers would not be allowed to discriminate on pricing of data access for different web services.
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Mark Zuckerberg on Friday said universal connectivity and net neutrality "can and must" coexist.
Rediff.com gives you a lowdown on the net neutrality issue that is today part of the national discourse.
Transcript of Nikhil Pahwa's chat with Rediff readers.
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