Final view on net neutrality after Trai recommendations: Govt

The government will take a final view on the issue of net neutrality after Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) submits its recommendations on the matter, Parliament was informed today.

A Department of Telecom (DoT) committee on net neutrality has given its recommendations relating to regulation of over-the-top (OTT) applications and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services, the government said.

"After Trai recommendations, government will take a final view on the whole issue," Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.

As per DoT committee report, OTT application services should be actively encouraged and any impediments in its expansion and growth should be removed, he added.

"Specific OTT communication services dealing with messaging should not be interfered with, through regulatory instruments. In case of VoIP communication services, there exists a regulatory arbitrage wherein such services also bypass the existing licencing and regulatory regime creating a non-level playing field," the minister said.

He further said the existence of a pricing arbitrage in VoIP, OTT communication services requires a graduated and calibrated public policy response.

"In case of VoIP international calling, a liberal approach may be adopted. However, in case of domestic calls, communication services by telecom service providers and OTT communication services may be treated similarly from a regulatory angle for the present," Prasad said.

The government has placed the DoT committee report in public domain for comments and suggestions. Stakeholders including industry bodies have submitted their suggestion on the recommendations and its likely implication, he said.

"Government is treating all the suggestions as inputs towards policy formulation on net neutrality," he added.

Regarding a question on measures taken by government to protect the interest and privacy of customers, he said the government stands for ensuring non-discriminatory access to internet for all citizens of the country.

"Telecom service providers under the terms and conditions for the licenses are inter-alia mandated to protect the interest of customers and privacy of the individual," the minister said.

He further said that to protect the security of nation, some security conditions have been incorporated in their licence terms and conditions.

"DoT committee on net neutrality has recommended inter- ministerial consultations to work out measures to ensure compliance of security related requirements from OTT service providers," he added.