Victory For Net Neutrality! TRAI Bans Differential Pricing Of Data Services

This is a major victory for every internet user of India.

In a press conference this afternoon, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued the ‘Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016’ that upholds net neutrality.

The chief telecom regulatory body has ruled that:

■ Service providers cannot offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content.

■ A service provider may, however, reduce tariff for accessing or providing emergency services.

■ A penalty of Rs. 50,000 a day will be levied for discriminatory tariffs charged by service providers.

■ TRAI may review these regulations after a period of two years.

The country witnessed one of its most constructive public discourses which was non-violent as well as circumspect. Despite majority of the replies being sent through Facebook there was a considerably large number of replies that came from other forums as well which has not happened before. This consultation paper had one of the largest number of respondents over 24 lakhs which speak volumes about the quality and reach of the net neutrality debate.

The Logical Indian heartily congratulates all its community members! The major contribution to the debate were from All India Bakchod(AIB) and E-commerce websites and also from individual personalities like Nikhil Pahwa, Mahesh Murthy and others. Our joined efforts have successfully protected net neutrality and the open web in India. We thank you immensely for taking your time to reply to the TRAI consultation papers, whose cumulative effect has ushered in today’s landmark ruling.

At the same time, we wish to thank the TRAI for coming up with a public consultation process before taking important steps such as this. It is definitely due to TRAI’s innovative process that public opinion has managed to defeat the pressure from corporate giants.

#IndiaWantsNetNeutrality is the campaign The Logical Indian did involving the community members to raise awareness and act against dilution of Net Neutrality:
You can read the articles related to campaign here:
#IndiaWantsNetNeutrality campaign

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