No Decision Yet on Charging WhatsApp, Skype Calls: Telecom Minister

There are arguments, which spurt after the report became public, that OTT local voice calls on WhatsApp, Viber and Skype etc would no longer be free.

The government panel has suggested regulation only for internet application that provide communication services like telecom operators offer.

While the above differentiation between India and global calls has been made only for voice services, the DoT report has stressed on user’s right to a free internet for messaging.

The panel mentions that no tarrif plans which block, throttle or prioritize content will be permitted and has left it to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to decide whether any tariff plan, including the controversial zero rating plan, violates the principles of net neutrality. The committee, led by AK Bhargava, has batted for a free and fair Internet and said that “the core principles of Net Neutrality must be adhered to“.

The report is a “praiseworthy exercise in balancing the multiple interests involved in the Net neutrality battle”, said Pranesh Prakash, policy director of the Centre for Internet and Society in Bangalore, in an email.

Specific OTT communication services dealing with messaging should not be interfered with through regulatory instruments.

As recognized in today’s report, we introduced the Internet.org platform to promote an Internet access model that is open and non-exclusive. However, the recommendation by the DoT panel on the domestic VoIP calls is unfortunately different.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is not looking into the issue of net neutrality as of now because sectoral regulator Trai is yet to finalize its views on it, CCI member MS Sahoo said.

However, as of now, this is the direction in which net neutrality in India seems to be moving towards and speaking for myself, I certainly hope that the goals mentioned in the policy are achieved, someday soon. The committee is suggesting a higher regulatory burden on OTT players, which is retrograde.

On Internet.org, the DoT says that Facebook is acting as a gatekeeper in determining which websites will be on Internet.org. “Collaborations between telecom operators and content providers that enable such a gate-keeping role to be played by any entity should be actively discouraged”. There are good reasons to be opposed to neutrality, but by and large the principle exists to ensure that your ability to access the vast expanse of the web will not be controlled by your internet service provider.

He said the report was prepared by a panel of officers which he himself had formed to “study the entire gamut of net neutrality”.

Net neutrality is back. “Over-the-top application services have been traditionally available in the market for some time and such services enhance consumer welfare and increase productivity. The timing for this is apt, taking into consideration the exponential growth of content and applications on the Internet”. “While we’re yet to see the final outcome, Net neutrality is critical for internet startups and the startup ecosystem”. “This report is a template for protecting and preserving their traditional voice revenues, which incumbents have already milked optimally and continue to do so through insidious tariff hikes”, Telecom Watchdog said in a letter to the Prime Minister.