New Delhi: Ruling in favour of net neutrality in the country, telecom regulator Trai on Monday barred all telecom operators from offering discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content. This implies that telecom operators will have to charge the same price for data used, irrespective of website or app accessed by the consumer.

Websites and apps can’t pay telecom operators to ensure that subscribers can access their content on the Internet for free or at a lesser price.

Trai’s new regulation puts an end to Facebook’s Free Basics and Airtel’s zero rating plans in India. Trai said such plans were violating “two key principles of tariff regulation: non-discrimination and transparency.”

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While the regulation comes into force immediately, it can be challenged in court.

Trai provided for a penalty of Rs 50,000 for each day on service providers if they flout this order. This penalty will be subject to a maximum of Rs 50 lakh.