Unity in diversity

The net neutrality issue has roiled the waters so badly that the chief executives of all telecom companies have decided to come together to address a joint press conference today. Today is also the last day to submit comments to the telecom regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, on its consultation paper on the regulation of over-the-top players such as WhatsApp, Skype and Viber among others. This is the first time operators are coming together on the same platform, that of the Cellular Operators Association of India, since the debate on net neutrality started. The trigger was the launch of the Airtel Zero platform by Bharti Airtel on April 6. Until now, only Airtel had come forward to respond to critics who alleged that the platform was against the principle of net neutrality.