India And Net Neutrality

Stephen Mathias gives some insight into the recent regulation of net neutrality in India, which outlaws tariffs that discriminate on the basis of content. It sheds greater light on the recent Facebook face-off with the Indian authorities over 'Free Basics'

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in its regulation dated 8 February 2016, has decided to prohibit tariffs for Internet access that discriminate on the basis of content. The decision is largely a response to Facebook's Free Basic's program.

Under Free Basics, Facebook had set certain technical standards on the basis of which any website could join the platform. A Reliance Communications customer could access these websites either through a downloaded app (Android only) or from freebasics.com. Individuals would have unlimited access to the websites available on Free Basics without incurring any Internet charges. Websites would essentially be 'lightweight' without streaming video, high resolution