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Bharti Airtel on Friday reached out to its employees, defending the launch of 'Airtel Zero' platform, which has created a furore over the issue of net neutrality.
Even as Airtel defended the platform, more online sites including Amazon.in and MakeMy Trip on Friday came out in support of net neutrality, after Flipkart said it wouldn't be a part of Airtel Zero. In a statement, Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and CEO-India, MakeMyTrip, "We are committed to a free internet and fully support net neutrality. Innovation is core to our DNA and a free internet will foster innovation and boost the pace of economic growth of the country.
Global giant Amazon's Indian arm Amazon.in, also said it fully supports an "Open Internet for innovation to flourish and to promote the vision of digital India".
On Wednesday, Cleartrip, NDTV and Times Group left internet.org platform of Facebook, which was launched in February this year in partnership with Reliance Communications.
Bharti Airtel on April 6 had launched 'Airtel Zero' platform, where companies, including startups, can offer apps for free. The app maker will pay for the customer's free usage to the operator and users don't have to pay any data charges.
The launch had triggered a debate on net neutrality across the country and many experts said the launch was against the principles of net neutrality.
Net neutrality means all internet sites to be treated equally without any discrimination in terms of speed and cost of access.
Amidst all this, telecom regulator is in the process of framing regulations on this issues and for over the top players such as WhatsApp, Skype and Viber. And the department of telecommunications has also set up a committee to look into the issue of net neutrality. Both the reports are expected to come out next month.
