Five good things about TRAI’s order on Net Neutrality

Becoming the first telecom regulator globally to ban zero rating plans like Facebook's Free Basics and Airtel Zero, TRAI has backed Net Neutrality while issuing a new set of norms barring discriminatory prices for data services.

Zee Media Bureau

Becoming the first telecom regulator globally to ban zero rating plans like Facebook's Free Basics and Airtel Zero, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has backed Net Neutrality while issuing a new set of norms barring discriminatory prices for data services.

Here are five good things about TRAI’s order on Net Neutrality.

Service providers can't influence content choice

Content will be free of choice for users. It will not be influenced by service providers through preferential pricing.  Service providers can’t decide as to what content should be available for free on their networks. This creates a level playing field for content developers.

Prevents Monopoly of big internet companies

Though Facebook has been disappointed with the TRAI order, it has made sure that big internet companies would not have monopoly over the market. This means that a big company and a small start up would be treated equally. Both would have same platform and access.

No service providers would be able to lock in customers

In the wake of TRAI’s order on free basics, service providers would not be able to lock in customers on promise of giving free/preferential content. This upholds customer choice as far as service providers are concerned.

Ensures innovation

The trai order ensures innovation in terms of diversity of internet content. Companies providing services akin to gaints such as facebook can come up. in other words, the order guarantees that teh Indian internet space is condusive for creative, new products.

Boost to e-commerce

With TRAI pitching for a flat internet environment, the Indian e-commerce sector receives a huge fillip. Companies with smaller budgets can continue to leverage the internet without being muscled out by their bigger rivals.