Trai mulls over ways for free internet within Net neutrality

 Months after barring platforms like Facebook’s Free Basics and Airtel Zero under its differential pricing rule, Trai on Thursday issued a consultation paper exploring models to give consumers free Internet service within the Net neutrality framework.

“The consultation paper (on free data) is being issued to explore model(s) that could achieve benefits of offering free data while avoiding the ingenuity that the differential tariff regulation is meant to prevent,” the regulator said in the consultation paper.

The regulator said that the proposed model should facilitate the un-connected and under-connected consumer to become better connected and should not allow any telecom service providers (TSP) or large company playing a gatekeeper or biased role.

It also said the model should also use the principles of open, transparent and equal access to consumer services by all consumers and all businesses. Trai believes that the proposed model should not hold back innovation and the opportunity to increase Internet penetration and usage, said the consultation paper.

The regulator had in February barred platforms like Airtel Zero and Facebook’s Free Basics which offered content for free saying this was against the principle of net neutrality.