TRAI Commits to an Open Internet in India

Even as the U.S. telecom regulator voted to go rid of net neutrality, its Indian counterpart reiterated its commitment to an open and free internet by calling it "a naturally correct principle" and the "right way" frontwards for the country. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an open up house word on 'Unsolicited Commercial Communication', the chairperson of the Telecom Regulator Authority of India (TRAI), R. S. Sharma, said that the agency will continue with its support for net neutrality fifty-fifty in the face of increased lobbying from big telecom. Co-ordinate to him, "in (the) Indian context, this is the right way … considering a lot is riding on the cyberspace and therefore it is important that it is kept as an open platform".

To emphasize his support for net neutrality, Sharma likened ISPs to toll operators on highways, saying that just like a driver is free to accept any exit on a highway without any diktat or interference from the price operator, cyberspace users should also not be subjected to any course of censorship by their internet service providers. According to him, "His (toll operator's) concern is only to accuse price from me. And thereafter I am gratis to go anywhere I desire to go. Similarly, net neutrality says you charge for the data and thereafter on the cyberspace what I visit, what site I access, is my choice".

Sharma as well said that TRAI will bring its new guidelines for net neutrality by January fifteen. Co-ordinate to him, the bureau has received a lot of responses from both sides of the fence, but the final decision will exist "all about consumer option" and that every site, service and content provider will become the same access. "That (cyberspace neutrality) is broad principal and I think it'southward a naturally right principal," he signed off.