Airtel Zero is not against Net Neutrality. Zero-rating will provide free data to consumers.

SaveTheInternet campaign made the Flipkart, leading e-tailer, to quit Airtel Zero, initiative by the leading telecom operator, Airtel. The huge uproar and backlash in the social media has prompted the move which welcomed by most online activist who wish to free and fair internet. Internet is a utility and not a marketing platform.

See also: Flipkart pulls plug from Airtel Zero

Now, Airtel is determined to promote zero-rating. It has taken by the very support on free data to Airtel consumers. The claim is that consumers will browse website under the plan free of any data charge. The website or business which is part of the plan will pay the telecom operator for the data charges or browsing charges instead of consumer using the service. Further, the Airtel-zero plan was compared with the toll-free service operated by various business entities.

See also: SaveTheInternet campaign

But is good to compare zero-rating to a consumer toll-free calls. I would like to question that how of us call toll-free in a day? Compare those numbers with users browsing internet. Is internet and toll free number fall under same category? Is it possible to compare toll free telephone calls with internet which is entirely different medium of communication? The comparison is unreasonable!

Further, Airtel has claimed zero-rating is open platform and anybody could participate under the plan. How could it be declared a open platform? Individuals paying telecos to promote a content. It would be like legalizing corruption to get the work done for oneself. Paying a fee to get job done. What it would mean? You pay me and you will do business! The creator of WWW intended internet to free and controlled by none. It is self-regulated. But service providers' zero-rating will promote a particular service and product at the cost of others. Consumers traffic will be take a U-turn towards to zero-rated websites as the service provider don't charge for data but charge the website or business instead of consumer. The fee levied has any definite quantum?!! How would small startups will get into the plan? Well, who cares about startups. It is the burden they have to carry. 

Though Airtel claims it to be a separate platform and is not against net neutrality, it disguises well enough to treat a particular traffic favorably over others. 

By observing world trend, zero-rating has been banned in America, Latin-America and EU. It is evident that zero-rating is against net neutrality. But Still Airtel insist on the plan. The ball is on TRAI court. The opinion on consultation paper can be provided till 24 of this month.