SAVE THE INTERNET
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| Save the Internet - Net Neutrality |
The
Internet is so big, so powerful and pointless that for some people it is a
complete substitute for life. The internet allows people all over the
world to connect and exchange information freely. Recently, there is a whole
new concept of net neutrality which is viral over the internet
What is net neutrality??
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| Save the Internet - Net Neutrality |
It’s
important for access to knowledge, services and free speech, as well as freedom
and ease of doing business online, for this access to be neutral
Net
Neutrality is about:
– All content is equal and content
should be easily accessible
– No telecom-style licensing of
Internet companies
– No gateways
– No speeding up of specific
websites
– No “zero rating” or making some
sites free over others
The condition
of Net Neutrality in India
What
do you do when you need to access the internet? We generally buy a data pack or
buy a monthly pack from your ISP provider, then use it in your smartphone,
laptop or PC and start browsing. What if
your telecom service providers give access to some sites like Facebook,
Flipkart, Amazon and others for free and for others you need to buy a newer
pack. The other sites would be eventually very slower and you will be forced to
browse only certain sites. Telecos in india want the option of doing just that.
As of 2015, India has no laws governing net neutrality, which would promise all
the internet users to be treated equally on the internet, not discriminating or
charging differentially by user, content, site, platform, application, type of
attached equipment, or mode of communication. There have already been a few
violations of net neutrality in India by some service providers.
The
debate on network neutrality in India started after Airtel, a mobile telephony
service provider in India, announced in December 2014 to charge additional
rates for making voice calls (VoIP) from its network using apps like WhatsApp,
Skype, etc.
Telecom
operators/ISPs are access services providers, and can control either how
much you access, what you access, how fast you access and how much you pay to
access content and services on the Internet. They want to change the way
internet is accessed in India. In April 2015, Airtel announced the "Airtel
Zero" scheme. Under the scheme, app firms sign a contract and Airtel
provides the apps for free to its customers.
What further?
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| Save the Internet - Net Neutrality |
Due to
intense lobbying by telecom operators like Airtel and Vodafone, the Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is planning to allow them to block apps
and websites to extort more money from consumers and businesses — an extreme
violation of net neutrality. In March 2015, Telecom Regulatory Authority of
India (TRAI) released a formal consultation paper on Regulatory Framework for
Over-the-top (OTT) services, seeking comments from the public. TRAI has
released a consultation paper with 20 questions spread across 118 complicated
pages and wants you to send them an e-mail by 24th of April, 2015. The
consultation paper was criticized for being one sided and having confusing
statements. It received condemnation from various politicians and Indian
internet users. By 14 April 2015, over 3,00,000 emails had been sent to TRAI
demanding net neutrality.
What can we do?
Let’s
join the fight for net neutrality. Let’s remind TRAI that their job is to
protect the rights of consumers, not the profit margins of telcos. Let’s demand
access to the free, open internet. Onternet is probably the last place where
each and every one is equal. The internet is the most essential requirement for
the future irrespective of the future. After US and Brazil, it is the chance
for India to adopt Net Neutrality and progress at a much larger pace.
Log
on to savetheinternet.in, type your name and email address and with just 2
clicks, you can send an email to TRAI. Do tell your friends to do the same.
THE
INTERNET NEEDS YOU!!
#SAVETHEINTERNET
References - http://www.savetheinternet.in/
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