TRAI Bats for Net Neutrality, Says No to Facebook Basics

India’s telecom watchdog, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India or TRAI, has said that no company can charge subscribers different prices for access to different type of content, keeping the free spirit of Internet intact.

This TRAI’s regulation comes as a blow to Facebook’s Free Basics platform as the social media company was trying its best to popularize its Free Basics platform, while encouraging differential pricing for internet access.

TRAI has also warned the operators that they cannot enter into any arrangement based on discriminatory pricing, also said that operators will be fined between INR 50,000-50 lakh if they are found to be violating the ruling.

According to the TRAI statement, “Service provider cannot enter into any arrangement, agreement or contract, by whatever name called, with any person, natural or legal, that has the effect of discriminatory tariffs for data services being offered or charged by the service provider”.

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