Trai to begin consultations on net neutrality soon

Telecom regulator has already resolved differential tariff issue, which is a major part of net neutrality

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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) will soon start pre-consultations on net neutrality. The development comes a year after the regulator issued a paper on the issue of regulation of over-the-top (OTT) players such as Whatsapp and Skype.

“We will start pre-consultation on net neutrality in 2-3 days,” said Trai Chairman R S Sharma.  The regulator has already resolved the differential tariff issue, which is the bone of contention in the net neutrality debate. However, the subject did not cover other parts of net neutrality such as framework for internet-based calls, messaging, throttling of internet speed on the basis of content or paid preferences, etc.

Earlier, the consultation paper had received comments from the stakeholders but the regulator got a new chairman, Sharma, and there were no final recommendations on the issue. Subsequently, it was decided to issue a fresh paper incorporating other issues as well.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has written to Trai asking the regulator to do away with the regulation on differential pricing. COAI asked Trai to reconsider the differential pricing for content offerings of telcos.

It requested the regulator to review its decision on closed electronic communication networks (CECN) and allow differential data tariffs on the basis of content, irrespective of how the content is provided — through CECN or outside it.

Bharti Airtel had written to Trai earlier this month seeking permission to offer exclusive video content over its CECN. Airtel said it was approached by a global content provider offering its exclusive content on Airtel’s CECN.

“Trai will take a call on the issue raised by companies based on the tariff they file with the regulator.

Every telecom operator needs to file tariff with Trai for the service they intend to provide to their customer,” said Sharma.

According to Trai’s regulation, telcos can’t charge differential prices on data on the basis of content except on CECN.

Trai has defined CECN as a communications network where data is neither received nor transmitted over the internet.

ON THE AGENDA

• Pre-consultation paper on net neutrality this time will focus on framework for internet-based calls, messaging, throttling of internet speed on the basis of content or paid preferences
   
• The regulator has already resolved differential tariff issue, which is a major part of net neutrality
   
• Bharti Airtel, earlier this month, wrote to Trai seeking permission to offer exclusive video content over its CECN
   
• COAI has asked Trai to reconsider the differential pricing for content offerings of telcos
   
• Trai is also internally reviewing the SC decision on call drops and will take  appropriate steps

Call drops: Trai says won’t ‘shy away’ from its duty

With its penalty provision for call drops annulled by the Supreme Court, telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Wednesday said it will not “shy away” from protecting the consumers and the matter is being discussed internally for taking an appropriate step in this regard. Trai Chairman R S Sharma also said ‘drive tests’ have been conducted in 11-12 cities to analyse the menace of call drops and the results are being processed before being made public.

Trai had put in place new regulations providing for the penalty on telecom operators for dropped calls.

However, this was set aside by the Supreme Court earlier this month.