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.

Flipkart quits Airtel Zero in support of Net Neutrality

Activist Backlash made Flipkart pull out from the scheme

'We at Flipkart has always strongly believed in the concept of net neutrality, for we exist because of the internet' - Flipkart.

Airtel, the leading Indian Telecom company, started a scheme 'Airtel Zero' which made way for the website to have preferential treatment but for a fee. It promised free consumer browsing and special promotion campaigns for companies which subscribed to the plan. But net neutrality envisages that all data and websites should be treated equally and charged equally.

Severe social media criticism and downgrading of its rating app stores has persuaded Flipkart to pull out of Airtel Zero. 

See also: TRAI's consultation paper on Over-the-top (OTT) service

Net Neutrality:

The term net neutrality was coined by Columbia University professor Tim Wu in 2003. It is the principle that mobile operators, internet service providers and governments should not discriminate on data access on the Internet. A service provider, for instance, should not offer a higher access speed to a website on the basis of a higher payment by that website.

Internet Companies response:

Most internet companies and startups denounced the zero-rating deal of the telecom operators. Zero-rating is against net-neutrality.

Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekar Sharma said telecom players are national utilities and not a marketing platform to run such a programme when asked about Zero-Ratings.

'Telecom infrastructure must be a open ecosystem...'

Internet has disrupted the world of business like no other technology in the world. With penetration of Internet, the growth of online entrepreneurship has grown many fold. The Technology has paved way for smaller startup to setup its market. 

'By rejecting the net neutrality, we'll be shutting the door on the entrepreneurial aspirations of millions' - Ritesh Agarwal, CEO of Oyo Rooms.

Net Neutrality is essential to maintain free and competitive market. As the regulatory framework for net neutrality is unclear and equivocal, the telecom companies are trying to make a dent into the market with sponsored contents from publishers for a fee. While the Zero-rating is an innovation in Indian telecom business, yet it hampers the free and competitive internet. It may lead to few choice to the consumers considering the preferential treatment for few websites.

However, Rajan S Mathews, Director General, Cellular Operations Association of India (COAI) said a distinction must be made between zero rating and net neutrality. He said telecom operators are not violating any terms and conditions that came attached with spectrum. They are waiting for TRAI framework on net neutrality and find a way out of problems.

As usual, Telecom companies will find its way to circumvent rules and laws once TRAI defines a framework for net neutrality. 

Net Neutrality Law:

Chile was the first country to introduce Net Neutrality law in 2010. It was a popular movement by Neutralidad Si. In 2014, Chile Telecom regulator banned mobile operators from zero-rating websites.

It was followed by Netherlands in the year 2011. The footsteps were followed by Belguim, France, Solvenia. Later, European Union (EU) adopted laws passed by the Netherlands which now provides uniform net neutrality law. Zero-rating has been banned in EU. 

In 2014, Brazil followed the footstep and enacted law principled at net neutrality. It states all data transmissions must be treated equally.

Later, USA's Federal Communications Commission laid down new rules on net neutrality. At&t, Verizon and Comcast are not allowed to block lawful contents, slow down applications or services, or accept fees for favorable treatment.

SaveTheInternet:

In India, in response to consultation paper from TRAI, Indian Telecom Regulator, SaveTheInternet to uphold net neutrality in India. 

Get Ready To Pay for WhatsApp, Viber, Hike, Blackberry,etc

Airtel, a leading telecom company, which advocated for separate charges for (Over-The-Top)OTT has turned huge tide. The Regulatory authority has moved consultation paper to levy separate charge for OTT. The deadline to submit suggestion is April 24, 2015. This move have challenged the very net neutrality in India. If the regulatory authority approves such move, then get ready guys, we have to pay for all video and voice calls in messaging services. Apart from data charges we have to shell out extra charges in the OTT charges. No more chit chats!

OTT (Over-The-Top):

1. 'In broadcasting, over-the-top content (OTT) refers to delivery of audio, video, and other media over the Internet without the involvement of a multiple-system operator in the control or distribution of the content.' - Wikipedia
2. Until now telecom operators don't distinguish OTT and other browsing data. But the regulatory authority was forced move which will prompt a distinction which will lead to hefty phone bills in future. 

Save The Internet!

An online campaign has started against the TRAI move to allow telecom operators to levy charge on OTT. Visit savetheinternet.in to lodge your protest today. Click on 'respond to Trai now or edit answer' to lodge your protest.

If not now, as a user of internet, we will lose our rights forever. Our free and neutral internet will be under the grip of telecom operators. The choice of network will depend on the choice of service offered. The leading telecom operators lobby for favoritism over other networks, concession for using particular service over their networks. 


We are under pressure to decide our future internet. If we lose now, you will lose it forever. Stand against the move to uphold net neutrality. 

It may appear as a simple move. But soon it may outrun us. One day, apart from exorbitant charge for data connection which we pay today, we will be forced to pay for every single message which are sent and received through internet messengers. It is high-time to lodge your response to maintain net neutrality in India.

My humble request is to lodge your response by visiting savetheinternet.in and send an email to TRAI protesting against the proposed move.

The first day saw a 27,000 emails in response to the consultation paper. But considering the number of internet users in India, we need more people to respond to the consultation paper to uphold net neutrality. Provide your support today! Have a happy future!

Update as on April 28, 2015: The crisis worsen as the Telecom operators like Airtel, vodafone, Idea has appealed with the Government to charge for OTT services today. Once TRAI grants approval then next target would be preferred content network by telecom operators. The Airtel Zero will get it's rigor back and will engulf user experience with sponsored contents based on Zero ratings.

If corporate lobby extends to the TRAI consultation then all is lost for Indian Internet users. Than the widely publicized broadband connection in 2003, mobile data cover vast majority of the internet users. The easy to setup and use network now faces challenge posed by the service providers. As no concrete net neutrality law is in place, which now making telecom operator to encroach upon mobile internet as and when they need to. Most prime target of these move is the internet messaging application whatsapp. As Indian user base vast, tapping the minimal charge over this OTT service will boost revenue of those telecom companies. With gross profit on mind, service providers started muddling with OTT service.

One day, telecom operators will invade your privacy if such trend gets approval from TRAI. Whatever these telecom operators dictate will be the laws of internet if not nipped in the bud.  TRAI, telecom regulator of India, yet to respond on the consultation paper on OTT services. Stay tuned for the updates. 

NOTE: To add insult to the injury, TRAI, listed 1 million user name and email id of those who sent reply to the consultation paper on OTT services. Well, a Telecom regulator of a country provides 1 million email id for spammers and marketers to solicit. Have you seen such a pathetic situation in any other country? Please share your opinion through comments. (Source: Times of India, link: 1 million email id exposed)