Fighting to Save Net Neutrality

Most web users in India hadn’t heard about the concept known as net neutrality, until last few weeks. But, recently this topic is garnering attention of people of our nation triggering a raging debate and protest on it. Net neutrality when comes to spotlight to most of the people they don’t really respond to it as it sounds something out of their league, hence many people are not aware of this topic, however, this is something that is associated with our and yours league for sure. If you think what you have to do with net neutrality and why you should care about it, then it’s a humble request to you and all the web and internet users to spare only 10 minutes of your precious time to read it and decide if you really don’t care about it. However, I’m sure after reading this whole concept and watching the video at the bottom of the page gonna make a huge difference for you and will make you bound to react to it and fight for it, like I’m doing.

What Is Net Neutrality?

Net Neutrality can be defines as the Internet’s guiding principle which preserves our right to communicate openly and freely online which is called as an open Internet. It also means that an Internet which enables and protects the free speech and we should be provided with open networks by out ISP (Internet Service Provider). IPS should not block or discriminate against any kind of applications or web related content. For example, you would never want your network service provider to decide to whom you can call and what you are supposed to say on that call, your ISP shouldn’t be concerned with what content you view on internet or post online.

Now, without net neutrality, cable and phone companies could chisel the Internet into fast and slow lanes. An ISP hence would be capable to slow down its competitors’ content or block any political views and opinions which they disagree with. ISPs even could charge extra tax and fees to the few content organizations that could manage to pay for privileged treatment  downgrading everyone else to time-consuming tier of service, which is gonna destroy the open Internet.

It’s very important for the access to services, knowledge, free speech, freedom and even ease of doing business online, for this access to be neutral for all:

• All websites must be equally accessible for all
• There will be same access speed at the telco/ISP level for each (independent of telco selection)
• There will be the same data cost for access to each site (per KB/MB)

Hence, Net Neutrality is about:

• No gateways
• No licensing of Internet companies of telecom style
• No boosting up the speed of specific websites (that may or may not pay telcos)
• No “zero rating” or making the sites free over others to avoid negative views

The opponents and the protestors argue that cutting out net neutrality could put small startups and companies with less money at a distinct drawback.

Why web users are miffed with Airtel and Flipkart?

The latest debate over this net neutrality has stimulated the Airtel on the way to introduce with its ‘Zero marketing’ platform that enables users to access apps of participating app developers at zero data charges. This move was widely condemned, but Flipkart’s CEO Sachin Bansal has supported it for which many user downvoted the Flipkart app. This plan supports the developers who sign up for Airtel Zero will get the data charges for the maximum parts or even  all factors and elements of their app, which means making the data charges for free app for the consumers. It has been reported that Flipkart has associated with Airtel for this upcoming plan. That means the users of Airtel network will only get access to the Flipkart app without any extra data costs.

Why you should be concerned and worried about it?

99% of Indians are relying and are dependent on Internet, hence ‘Net neutrality’ is a must today. If there will be net neutrality, the Internet will break off to function the way it has been doing so far. That means ISPs will be charging the companies like YouTube or Netflix as they consume more bandwidth and GPRS, eventually the load of extra cost will be derived from the consumers.

Similarly, ISPs which will be able to make fast and slow lanes, will create fast Internet lanes, by which all websites will be unable to get accessed at the same speed and to get the access one can only pay the additional sum. Not only this, ISPs can also put extra charge for the free calls you make using services like WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook and Viber etc, hence the load of additional and extra tax by the OTT members will be imposed on customers.

What you can do to save it?

You could support the campaign to save and fight for net neutrality as thousands of Indians have raised their voice and have given their support and the number is hiking by every single minute. Indians have sent more than 1 lakh emails to TRAI over this blazing issue through the website www.savetheinternet.in. The emails also have been sent to the regulator’s call for public consultation in better response. The government has scheduled the deadline for sending in feedback and sharing our views and our option will be lapsed in a week. The concept of net neutrality or open and equal Internet for all has fetched wide attention from all across the globe.

In fact countries like the US, Netherlands, Chile and Brazil have already adopted the Net Neutrality which is totally against the discrimination of Internet content or charging users differently based on the content, site, apps or platform they use, TRAI has also asked for mass opinion and feedback to help in formulating the regulations for consuming the Internet. Net neutrality which means when a service provider is selling you data they don’t have to be concerned about how the data is used or how we use it. It is up to the consumer, how they wanna spend it and it’s their right and our right.

But to fight and save net neutrality it is important to reply to TRAI. The new website www.savetheinternet.in has been created that allows people to share their feedback and reply to TRAI in favour of net neutrality within the framework of its consultation paper. Remember guys the deadline for the same is April 24^th, 2015. If still you are confused about it, do watch this AIB video below on Net Neutrality to get it clearly and do visit the website to save every web user’s right “Net Neutrality”.