TRAI to issue Net neutrality recommendations Tuesday

Finally, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is set to put an end to the Net neutrality debate on Tuesday.

The regulator will come up with recommendations which will be abiding to all mobile internet service providers.

It is envisaged that TRAI recommendations will also impact the future of apps that provide calling and messaging services.

“We will be bringing out Net neutrality recommendations tomorrow. You will find answers regarding OTT (over-the-top), VoIP (Internet based calls),” Trai Chairman RS Sharma told reporters on the sidelines of an open house discussion on in-flight connectivity (IFC) for providing phone call and data services.  

According to telecom service providers there should be a level playing field between them and players in the OTT VOIP service.

Telecom operators have demanded that same rules should be applied on entities providing similar services.

Trai’s consultation paper on Net-neutrality was sought by the Department of Telecom (DoT) following the suggestion of a High Level Committee which proposed regulation of domestic calls on Internet-based apps by putting them at par with services offered by telecom operators.

Ever since the concept of net neutrality has come up, the supporters have been protesting the selective considerations of service providers.

Reliance Jio representative said that communication in flights should not be restricted to satellite only but air-to-ground technologies should also be allowed. Under the air-to-ground technology, Jio said that equipment from a tower will look up in the sky and provide connectivity. 

(With PTI inputs)