The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is set to issue a consultation paper on regulating the over-the-top players (OTT) by end-January 2015. The paper is also reportedly set to seek views on the definition of net neutrality.
TRAI is of the view that currently there is no law or framework governing the concept of net neutrality in India and thus there is a need to address this issue. At present, the pricing on the internet is based on validity and the volume of data. TRAI is examining if the current data packs based on these parameters limits the users access to mobile internet. The exercise would also set the scope of regulation of OTT operations in the country.
Recently, Bharti Airtel decided to not go ahead its newly proposed tariffs voice over Internet protocol calls. This tariff structure breaches the concept of net neutrality.
