TRAI has ordered Reliance Communications to put Facebook’s Free Basics platform temporarily on hold, up until it gives forth its views on the matter of net neutrality. The network provider is the social media giant’s partner in this endeavor, having launched the service across India over a month ago.
According to a senior government official, Reliance Communications has responded to TRAI’s request by submitting a compliance report which states that Free Basics has been stopped. However, the platform is still open to its consumers. Customers can access it by logging into the site. Insiders claim the player had gotten a notice from TRAI on the matter nearly 2 weeks ago.
Representatives of both Reliance and Facebook have refused to comment on the issue. A source has informed the Times of India that TRAI is still debating its viewpoint on net neutrality. The authority is not sure whether an entity should be permitted to impose differential pricing for various services. Until this question gets resolved, the body thinks it’s not appropriate to allow Free Basics to continue.
To recall, TRAI had floated a consultation paper titled Differential Pricing for Data Services earlier this month. The report is open to comments till December 30 and counter comments till January 7. The document states that telecom service providers (TSPs) have too much power over tariffs when it comes to zero-rating offerings like Free Basics.
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TRAI thinks this influence could be misused to favor one service over another by charging different rates for each, compelling people to opt for the less expensive option. This is clearly in violation of net neutrality, which dictates that operators should allow people to access any content they choose without any advantages or disadvantages persuading them to pick one over the other.
Facebook has hit back against these allegations by defending Free Basics and starting an email campaign asking its users to save the platform by sending a message to TRAI. The body has so far received nearly 6 lakh comments for the consultation paper it had issued.