<p>The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (Trai) decision not to allow differential pricing of data to access the Internet received appreciation from activists and different political parties while Facebook and telecom operators said they were disappointed.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Political parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena welcomed the decision while IT Industry bodies Nasscom and IAMAI too lauded the regulator.<br /><br />“Our submission highlighted the importance of net neutrality principles, non-discriminatory access and transparent business models aligned to the goal of enhancing Internet penetration in the country,” Nasscom President R Chandrashekhar said.<br /><br />The Internet firms body IAMAI, whose members include Google, Facebook, LinkedIn etc appreciated the regulation, but with a “concern”.<br /><br />“The association has a slight concern on the exception and the exception to the exception as to how this entire thing will pan out. The association hopes that the exceptions to the rule will not be misused by the TSPs (Telecom Service Providers),” IAMAI said in a statement.<br /><br />Facebook’s disappointed<br />Social media giant Facebook expressed disappointment and said it will adversely impacts its free Internet platform Free Basics.<br /><br />“Our goal with Free Basics is to bring more people online with an open, non-exclusive and free platform. While disappointed with the outcome, we will continue our efforts to eliminate barriers and give the unconnected an easier path to the Internet and the opportunities it brings,” Facebook spokesperson said in a statement.</p>
<p>The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (Trai) decision not to allow differential pricing of data to access the Internet received appreciation from activists and different political parties while Facebook and telecom operators said they were disappointed.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Political parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena welcomed the decision while IT Industry bodies Nasscom and IAMAI too lauded the regulator.<br /><br />“Our submission highlighted the importance of net neutrality principles, non-discriminatory access and transparent business models aligned to the goal of enhancing Internet penetration in the country,” Nasscom President R Chandrashekhar said.<br /><br />The Internet firms body IAMAI, whose members include Google, Facebook, LinkedIn etc appreciated the regulation, but with a “concern”.<br /><br />“The association has a slight concern on the exception and the exception to the exception as to how this entire thing will pan out. The association hopes that the exceptions to the rule will not be misused by the TSPs (Telecom Service Providers),” IAMAI said in a statement.<br /><br />Facebook’s disappointed<br />Social media giant Facebook expressed disappointment and said it will adversely impacts its free Internet platform Free Basics.<br /><br />“Our goal with Free Basics is to bring more people online with an open, non-exclusive and free platform. While disappointed with the outcome, we will continue our efforts to eliminate barriers and give the unconnected an easier path to the Internet and the opportunities it brings,” Facebook spokesperson said in a statement.</p>
