RCom suspends Free Basics launch till Trai nod

Free Basics is a service offered by Facebook in some emerging markets that lets users access some websites for free

Under regulatory pressure, Reliance Communications (RCom) has decided to keep in abeyance the commercial launch of Free Basics, in partnership with Facebook.

(Abeyance is a state of temporary disuse or suspension.)

This comes after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) shot off a second letter to RCom on Wednesday, asking the latter to specify the modalities of the services and wait for its approval before the commercial launch.

Through Free Basics, a user can access certain sites using a mobile browser without any internet connection or data charges. This, according to experts, violates net neutrality principles. Users can download the Free Basics app on Android, but they will be charged for downloading the app.

According to sources, RCom had sought Trai’s approval for launching Free Basics in November.

Subsequently, Trai sought details of the offerings and asked the company to withhold the launch till an approval is obtained. Although RCom told Trai that it has complied with the regulator’s directive earlier this month, the company’s subscribers could access the services till Tuesday, which forced Trai to again ask for details from the telecom player.

An RCom spokesperson said, “As directed by Trai, the commercial launch of Free Basics has been kept in abeyance, till they (Trai) consider all details and convey a specific approval.”

Free Basics was available to RCom subscribers under Free Net after logging into the company’s website. RCom had launched the Free Basics platform, formerly internet.org, in partnership with Facebook earlier this year.

Its subscribers could access around 40 websites in Maharashtra, Mumbai, Chennai, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.

The plan was to take this offering to across India, which has now been put on hold, according to sources.

HOT-BUTTON ISSUE

• Free Basics, earlier internet.org, was launched in partnership with RCom in February this year
• According to experts, Free Basics runs on a principle of zero rating, which is against net neutrality principles
• Earlier, Bharti Airtel’s Airtel Zero platform triggered a debate on net neutrality
• Under Free Basics/Airtel Zero, websites/start-ups can come together to give certain applications free of cost to users
• Free Basics is available across 19 countries
• Facebook recently launched ‘Save Basics’ campaign and asked its users to send mails to Trai in support of it; claims 3.2 million of its 130 million users in India have sent mails
• Trai asked RCom to keep in abeyance the launch of Free Basics till their approval
• Trai is in the midst of finalising views for net neutrality.  A few weeks ago, Trai issued another paper on differential pricing for data services, wherein it had asked if telcos should be allowed to have different pricing for accessing websites, apps and platforms

Facebook has partnered 10 to 12 telecommunications firms across 19 countries to provide this free internet platform.

Facebook said: “We are committed to Free Basics and to working with Reliance and the relevant authorities to help people in India get connected.”

The debate around net neutrality grew louder over the past couple of days when Facebook asked its users to send petitions to Trai in support of Free Basics.

According to an advertisement by Facebook, in the past several days, 3.2 million people have petitioned Trai in support of Free Basics. “We do not charge anyone anything for Free Basics. There are no ads in the version of Facebook on Free Basics. Facebook produces no revenue. We are doing this to connect India,” the ad claimed.

Trai, in the midst of deciding its views on net neutrality, has come out with a second consultation paper related to the issue — differential pricing being offered by telecom firms in various plans. The views will decide whether Free Basics service and Airtel Zero by Bharti Airtel conform to the principles of net neutrality or not. Earlier also, Trai had issued a paper on regulation for over-the-top players, for which it received around one million comments.

Trai is expected to come out with its final views by January.

On Tuesday, start-ups in India waded into the debate over Free Basics. Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma called for a ‘jihad’ to save free internet and to reject the Facebook project.