Net Neutrality issue: Deadline for public comments extended to January 7

TRAI in March floated a consultation paper on regulation for over-the-top applications like Skype, Viber, WhatsApp and net neutrality.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: As the debate over the net neutrality resurfaces, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday decided to extend deadline for comments on differential data pricing over net neutrality to January 7.

"We have extended it to January 7 mainly due to request from telecom industry bodies," Trai Chairman RS Sharma said. The deadline for comments on the paper was ending today.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has extended date for counter comments to January 14, which was earlier set to close on January 7.

"On the request of the stakeholders, the last date for receipt of written comments/views has been extended up to January 7 and counter comments, if any, up to January 14. It has also been decided that no request for any further extension of time for submission of comments/counter comments shall be entertained," Trai said in a statement.

A debate on net neutrality stirred across the country after Airtel decided to charge separately for internet-based calls but withdrew it later after people protested. Internet activists and experts flayed the operator for 'Airtel Zero' service along with Facebook's internet.org service, currently renamed 'Free Basics'.

Facebook's Internet.org had partnered with Reliance Communications in February this year to provide free internet access to many websites as part of the initiative.

The regulator till December 23 had received close to 5.7 lakh comments out of which over 5.5 lakh comments are through Facebook's campaign. The social media giant is campaigning aggressively to defend it free internet platform Free Basics.

With Agency Inputs