Net neutrality for operators limiting Internet access: Facebook

New Delhi: Defending its free Internet platform internet.Org, Facebook today said net neutrality principle arose when operators started selling different levels of speed to provide faster access to certain services.

"When users purchase Internet access, they should be able to go where they want to, and that concept of net neutrality rules in context of operators who originally wanted to sell different tiers of speeds to consumers so that certain services can be accessed on a faster basis," Facebook Vice President for Mobile and Global Access Policy Kevin Martin said at the India Economic Convention 2015.

He said that Facebook supports the concept of net neutrality and its programme internet.Org is to enable people to realize the importance of Internet by providing access to basic web service free of data cost.

Through internet.Org, mobile users can access websites available on the platform for free.

Even websites are not required to pay any charge for coming on to the platform, but need to follow certain technical criteria for joining it, he said.

Additionally, neither Facebook nor other websites are required to pay for Internet usage by end users.

A government panel in India has criticized this kind of platform, saying this can act as a gatekeeper and should not be allowed. However, the social media giant says it is a gateway to access Internet and not a gatekeeper.