There is so much noise now-a-days on the issue called Net Neutrality. What is this net neutrality? Why is this being taken so seriously? As per one estimate, when Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) invited suggestions for net neutrality, there were more than one million views put forward by the Netizen.
The term of Net Neutrality is made up of Net which means internet and neutrality that means no discrimination. This concept can be understood with an example of a highway. As we move on a highway, the entire space on the highway is available for use. Depending upon our speed and safety norm, we choose the lanes of the highway. Now let’s suppose, if a special lane is created on the highway and the people are told that this lane is reserved for only few people, obviously they will feel discriminated. In other words, a preferential treatment is given to a set of certain customers. Internet is also like a free-way. Millions and billions of data flow across the net round the clock. If suddenly a part of the freeway is reserved for certain data, other data will not get the sufficient space to move. That is where the neutrality will be breached.
In India, there are only discussions and suggestions about the issue. The government also can’t take any legal action in the absence of any law in the regard. The issue picked up momentum when Airtel, the largest telecom provider, mooted a proposal ‘Airtel Zero’. Under this arrangement any ‘app’ firm could enter into an agreement with Airtel and the access to the customers of these ‘apps’ would be provided free access to the internet. The charges of the internet access would be paid by the app company. This development caused a big stir in our country and support began to pour in from various quarters. Finally, Flipkart walked away of the deal with Airtel in support of the net neutrality. Recently, many big players like NDTV and Cleartrip pulled out of the preferential arrangement making it clear that they stand by the idea of net neutrality.
There have been many attempts at the individual and the company level to endorse the idea of net neutrality. But the role of the government is very important because it has to take the initiative to pass a law against any abuse on the internet highway.