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DoT report a blow to net neutrality
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Bikky Khosla | 21 Jul, 2015
A recent report by the Department of Telecommunications has rekindled the fire over net neutrality. India is a land of the Buddha, who preached the middle path, the report -- which wants the government to bring VoIP based domestic calling services under licensing -- points out. What will immediately strike one about the report is the flawed logic at the heart of it. But things may be not as simple as that. The argument sounds disingenuous rather than merely wrong. The underlying attempt seems to be protection of telcos' revenues at the cost of net neutrality.
It is unfortunate that even after the recent hullabaloo over Airtel Zero and TRAI's consultation paper that received nearly one million responses in support of net neutrality, the proponents of weak net neutrality are still advocating the misguided notion that telcos should have the right to charge the Internet companies because the latter are making lots of money by using the networks built by the former. It is true that the telcos pay high prices for spectrum to the government, but that does not justify the compromise. Instead, the Centre should make more spectrum available.
Steps against net neutrality, as recommended by the DoT report, could be
a blow to start-up Internet businesses. In recent years we have seen a
number of domestic start-ups growing to large players. This would not
have been possible without non-discriminatory access to the Internet. According to an estimate, the Internet
user base in the country is likely to reach 503 million -- including 314
million mobile internet users -- by 2017. At such a juncture, adoption of
the DoT proposals could cripple the growth prospects of e-commerce in
the country. At the same time, such a move will dampen the excitement
the government has laboriously built around India in recent months
through a series of initiatives, including Digital India.
Meanwhile, the government has invited states to discuss the issue of FDI in e-commerce and multi-brand retail. At present, 100 percent FDI is allowed in B2B e-commerce, but not in B2C companies selling directly to consumers. I think the issue is just going to lead to a prolonged debate and we are in dire need of a comprehensive policy for the sector. As far as FDI in retail is concerned, I think it could offer more opportunities than threats, but again the government must ensure transparent implementation of policy initiatives. It must make sure that big players do not deviate from the norms stealthily and small players are not overrun by them.
I invite your opinions.
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Net neutrality in India
Dilip Jhaveri | Thu Jul 23 18:35:49 2015
Every decision of government has corruption component, direct or indirect. We just cannot let market forces decide and make progress. Every new technology is disruptive to status quo.
FDI in retail
A V Chandran | Thu Jul 23 06:53:31 2015
The proposed FDI in Retail is a macro nature hence it needs corresponding profit sharing with National GDP subject to frequent views and reviews from regulators. There must be a precise check and control on this area by virtue of socio-economic mechanism so as to safeguard economic limitation of the Country as a whole.
DoT report a blow to net neutrality
Shailesh Ghanshyam Chaudhari | Thu Jul 23 05:52:24 2015
Net neutrality is essential and any attempts to divert from it will make DoT being severely criticised and rejected by masses.
Net Neutrality
Sid | Wed Jul 22 19:04:25 2015
It is not new that policies and laws have been framed keeping the interests of the business houses in mind. Yes the general junta looses more often than we would like to believe.
Modi's end goal of prosperity and gainful employment from the MII initiative would hinge to a great extent on small and medium scale sector who would rely on the net for their success. Net neutrality preservation will be in line with the efforts of the current government economic comeback for the country. Attempts to reverse net neutrality will benefit very few of our crony capitalist and not in the larger interest of the country - crony capitalism never was.
Net neutrality and the consumers
Ramesh Kumar Rohilla | Wed Jul 22 05:21:33 2015
In India the consumers are always cheated. The net neutrality is big question. Even when a consumer is simply cheated by the telecom service providers,then,the complaint is not maintainable in any consumer court of the country. And most of the consumers are not aware about this.
The point is that who cares for the consumers. only awareness and the consumers we united can protect us form the organized cheating by the telecom service providers.
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