National Internet Exchange of India (Nixi) which is under the IT Ministry, has come out in support net neutrality and spoken against telecom companies bundling apps selectively. The organization insists that such policies are against the main idea behind the Internet and they would only serve to interfere with the concept of the worldwide web.
Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel continues to pretend like its Airtel Zero plan is perfectly non-discriminatory against smaller companies, while Facebook’s Mark Zuckberg thinks net neutrality and bundling selective services can co-exist. The nationwide debate started when the TRAI issued a paper proposing the idea of differential pricing for various apps, probably after being pressurized by network operators.
Imagine giving your telecom company more money on top of the data charges you already pay just because you want to use an application that is ‘robbing’ their SMS or voice revenue. Why didn’t these providers innovate and develop apps to compete with WhatsApp, Line, Skype, Viber and similar rivals instead? Citizens across India, the media, various NGOs and now Nixi, have condemned the proposal since it goes against net neutrality.
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In a statement to the press picked up by NDTV Gadgets via PTI, Nixi notes that net neutrality is the only way to go if we want an open web. Nixi has been formed in order to deliver neutral Internet Exchange Point services in India. It’s not just Reliance (partnered with Facebook) and Airtel who are guilty of giving particular sites or apps special treatment. Tata, Uninor and Aircel are also being criticized for offering selective access to social networks.
Nixi feels that when telecom companies get to pick the apps they want customers to use, it ‘dilutes’ the neutrality of the Internet. Such an environment also kills any kind of entrepreneurial spirit since small developers will find it hard to compete against brands with more money who can pay for visibility on platforms like Airtel Zero.