Net Neutrality: DoT bashes Internet.org, but goes easy on Airtel Zero

New Delhi: A DoT panel on net neutrality is learnt to have opposed projects like Facebook's Internet.org, which allow access to certain websites without mobile data charges, while suggesting that similar plans such as Airtel  Zero be allowed with prior clearance from Trai. The panel has stated however that "collaborations between telecom operators and content providers that enable such  gate-keeping role to be played by any entity should be  actively discouraged", sources said.    

Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had directed the Department of Telecom (DoT) to form a panel on net neutrality and give its recommendation on the matter. Net neutrality implies that equal treatment be accorded to all Internet traffic and no priority be given to an entity or company based on payment to content or service providers such  as telecom companies, which is seen as discriminatory.         

The neutrality debate heated up in India after telecom operator Airtel launched a platform, Airtel Zero, that would allow free access of some websites on it network. However, the    companies were asked to pay Airtel for joining the platform. Internet.org, on the other hand, is a Facebook-led initiative which aims to bring 5 billion people online in  partnership with tech giants like Samsung and Qualcomm as well as mobile operators. In India, it had tied up with Reliance  Communications.    

Sources said the DoT panel has stated that this project has been criticised for violating net neutrality principle and favouring Facebook's own services over its rivals. Facebook, however, at various forums has said that the project is pro-Internet access and hence does not violate the principle. They said the panel however has favoured allowing of  zero-rating platforms, like Airtel Zero, but with a rider that operators should take prior permission of telecom regulator Trai to launch it or take action against such plan if they are founding violating principle of net neutrality, sources said. 

The DoT did not respond to e-mail query send in this regard, while Facebook spokesperson said "Until we have the DoT panel findings we are not in a position to comment." The Internet.org earlier provided restricted Internet access to subscribers RCom, the panel is learnt to have noted. "The panel observed that until April 2015, Internet.org users could have free access for only a few websites and Facebook's was seen as gatekeeper in determining what websites  were in that list. This was seen as violating net neutrality. In early May 2015, due to severe criticism, Facebook opened it to websites that meet certain criteria," the source said. It also observed that large organisations with market have started creating closed ecosystems which profit their  business model in the long run.