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Department of Telecom

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Seeking comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services

Start Date :

Dec 10, 2015

Last Date :

Jan 15, 2016

00:00 AM IST (GMT +5.30 Hrs)

Submission Closed

The past few years have witnessed tremendous growth in data usage and quite a large number of data tariff offers are made available by the service providers. The regulatory ...

The past few years have witnessed tremendous growth in data usage and quite a large number of data tariff offers are made available by the service providers. The regulatory guidelines till now on discrimination and transparency in tariff offers were more focused to address the regulatory concerns in voice telephony. The growth of data usage and the manner in which data schemes are being designed by service providers currently, calls for a re-look at the regulatory principles of non-discriminatory tariff and transparency measures in the context of data tariff offers.

It has come to the notice of TRAI that some service providers are offering differential data tariff with free or discounted tariffs to certain contents of certain websites/applications/platforms. The objective of offering such schemes is claimed to be the desire of various service providers/content providers or platform providers to enable the consumers, especially the poor, to access certain content on the internet free of charge.
Where reduced rates are tied to specific content, potentially, both positive and negative effects arise from an economic and regulatory perspective. On the one hand, it appears to make overall internet access more affordable by reducing costs of certain types of content. On the other hand, several negative effects might ensue. Differential tariffs results in classification of subscribers based on the content they want to access (those who want to access non-participating content will be charged at a higher rate than those who want to access participating content). This may potentially go against the principle of non-discriminatory tariff.
Therefore, the potential benefits and disadvantages of such practices have to be weighed in order to determine the regulatory approach.

In this background, TRAI has issued a consultation paper on the issue of differential pricing for data services seeking comments from stakeholders on certain issues as enumerated below:

i. Should the TSPs be allowed to have differential pricing for data usage for accessing different websites, applications or platforms?

ii. If differential pricing for data usage is permitted, what measures should be adopted to ensure that the principles of non-discrimination, transparency, affordable internet access, competition and market entry and innovation are addressed?

iii. Are there alternative methods/technologies/business models, other than differentiated tariff plans, available to achieve the objective of providing free internet access to the consumers? If yes, please suggest/describe these methods/technologies/business models. Also, describe the potential benefits and disadvantages associated with such methods/technologies/business models?

Through this forum of My Gov, TRAI invites the comments of the stakeholders on the above issues by 7th January, 2015.

Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services

See Details

All Comments

Showing 1056 Submission(s)

Havish 9 years 6 months ago

We want net neutrality...! Denying the people the access to "fair internet" in the false pretext of "Free internet" is absolutely condemnable...! Lets not let another foreigner (Mark Zuckerberg) rise to power ... for "information is power". This is also against our own resolve of make in India. So #KillFreeBasics #SaveTheInternet and #BanFacebook if thats what is necessary..!

ARUN KUMAR_396 9 years 6 months ago

there are so many cases came to my notice where my friends and peoples don't really know who it will affect it in future but they submit the report through facebook just for trust with facebook. so while considering views take care regarding that.

facebook push us to support free basic when we login so many people support it irritatingly but don't know....

Amritesh Praksh Dixit 9 years 6 months ago

We want net neutrality. Seeking discriminatory data plans is it self a privilege wanted by the data companies. Now free basics by facebook is also on its way to ensure that net neutrality becomes a history in india. As they do not promise it to be unbiased in future, they reserve the right to reject a website or a consumer.

dinesh lavakusha reddy gillela 9 years 6 months ago

we want net neutrality that is we should be able to access all websites and all data with out any restrictions. we don't want to end up paying more money for subscribing to individual websites.. which are out of free internet.. I am against free internet for basic requirements instead give free data to some limit so that if they can't afford they will use the free data.., don't fall to the corporate marketing strategies..

Surya S Narayanan 9 years 6 months ago

Thx to FB for highlighting but No thx-Though sounding noble, this is no different than pawn broker who is preying on people's poverty - If Pawn broker has the borrowers' interest in mind while lending money then yes FB also has common man's plight with Internet access in mind by providing Free Basics. Things like public libraries are best left to Govt (which are accountable) not commercial entities. Nandan’s "Direct Benefits Transfer of Internet Data Packs” is a far better net neutral approach.

Vikas Kumar 9 years 6 months ago

We don't want the next billions targeted by Facebook for Free Basics to see the internet through the small lens, made by whim and wish of Facebook which can only limit the unlimited opportunity. This sounds like addicting people to a particular drug just because they can't effort nutritious food. Once people start using it they will not be able restrain them self even if they can effort. #TRAI #MyGov Please save this !

Vaishakh S Unnithan 9 years 6 months ago

I donot support free basics by facebook and I dont want to bring licensing for the applications like whatsapp, viber, and all similar applications.

Anshuman Misra_1 9 years 6 months ago

Providing universal digital access is an obligation of the government. This task cannot be sublet to private companies. The solution is simple. Just like the government has rules for Airlines for compulsory regional connectivity or in the case of mobile networks a cess is charged for rural connectivity, a law has to be set for data networks. In rural and unconnected areas, the government needs to provide free data access which is paid for by the cess.

Anubhav Rawat 9 years 6 months ago

I support "New Neutrality". Initially, when i saw people supporting 'free basics', i was a bit confused. Then, on researching, found it is against the "free will" of our internet facilities. Similar to this, i need a "DTH Neutrality" also, coz they are charging a lot per channel, and moreover, with DTH I am taking 2-3 connections within a single roof (sounds weird) - it should be like we have WIFI/Broadband connection at home - one plan for 5 devices.

Jyoti Shivaji Patil 9 years 6 months ago

I do not support free basics by facebook