Uniform Rule For All Players Key To Net Neutrality: Industry


NEW DELHI: On the last day fixed to submit suggestions on net neutrality to telecom regulator, the industry stakeholders supported free and fair access to internet but called for "same services, same rule" regime for all categories of players.

"We're pro-consumers. We don't believe in blocking any site. We are committed to net neutrality," Gopal Vittal, chief executive officer of Bharti Airtel, said at a media briefing by the chief executives of telecom companies, organised by the Cellular Operators' Association of India.

The chief executives said the "same services, same rule" must apply for all players and not just the telecom operators.

They said the levies they pay to the government, such as licence fee, should also be applicable to over-the-top players who offer, among other services, voice and text telephony.

In March, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released a paper inviting comments from stakeholders on how over-the-top services should be regulated in the country. It wanted the suggestions to be sent by April 24 and counter-arguments by May 8.

The National Internet Exchange of India, as an impartial entity, said that it strongly supports net neutrality and feels that is the only way forward to make the internet open, free and innovative.

"Any move by telcos to bundle application or content selectively will hamper the very basic concept of internet," Govind, NIXI chief executive officer, said in a statement.
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Source: IANS