Is Airtel Zero violating Net Neutrality? DoT will decide

MUMBAI, INDIA: Days after Bharti Airtel launched its Airtel Zero plan, which allegedly violates net neutrality, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has set-up a committee that will closely study the plan, and its repercussions.

Angry netizens have lambasted Airtel for the plan which allegedly grants preferential treatment to paying websites, and called it controversial.

Times of India and India Today quoted sources and reported that DoT has taken cognizance of the reports and is keeping a close watch on developments around it. "DoT is looking into finer details and whether it goes against the spirit of net neutrality," a top official source told TOI.

The sources, however, said the government may not take any immediate decision over Airtel's plan till the time the DoT committee comes up with a concrete plan to regulate OTT services. Also, TRAI's recommendations will be looked into before any action, ToI quoted a source.

The source said Airtel Zero plan will also be viewed in the light of the company’s attempt in December 2014, where it had tried to charge higher tariff for Internet telephony players such as Viber, WhatsApp, Skype and Line. Airtel had then been forced to withdraw the plan after it faced criticism on social media platforms and rival telecom companies such as Vodafone and Idea Cellular refused to follow suit.

The inspection by the DoT comes at a time when an official committee of the ministry is also looking into the whole issue of net neutrality. The DoT committee's study runs parallel to telecom regulator Trai's consultation on over-the-top (OTT) applications, which are basically the fast-growing social media and other internet services that ride the infrastructure of telecom operators to reach mobile consumers.

TOI reported that the Zero Plan by Airtel will not be acted upon until the DoT committee decides to do so and the paper drafted by TRAI will also be referred while making the final decision.

Net Neutrality is the trending topic over coffee table discussions as well on the Internet largely led by popular discontent with Airtel and its Zero Plan.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the committee will release an initial report in the second week of May.