TRAI in its new recommendations has backed the core principles of Net Neutrality.
India’s telecom regulator has backed the basic principles of an open and free internet in its recommendations on net neutrality, a term which means people should get equal access to the internet and broadband providers should not favour any apps and services.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s guidelines released on Tuesday say that no internet access service provider can put in any form of discrimination, restriction or interference in the treatment of content. These include practices like blocking, degrading, slowing down or granting preferential speeds or treatment to any content.
“A Licensee providing Internet Access Service shall not engage in any discriminatory treatment of content, including based on the sender or receiver, the protocols being used or the user equipment,” TRAI said today. Net neutrality has been debated globally and India, with activists demanding an open internet without any restrictions any restrictions on the nature or speed of internet.
The new guidelines will apply to internet access service providers but certain ‘specialised services’ as defined by the telecom ministry would be exempt.
The regulator also recommended that the terms of various license agreements governing the provision of internet services in India be amended in order to incorporate the principles of non-discriminatory treatment of content by internet access services along with the appropriate exclusions and exceptions.
TRAI has also urged the government to establish a multi-stakeholder body with framework for collaborative mechanism among the stakeholders for the purpose of monitoring and enforcement.
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