Committed to non-discriminatory access to Internet, asserts Govt

“Government is committed to the fundamental principles and concept of Net neutrality and strives for <g data-gr-id="42">non</g>- discriminatory access to <g data-gr-id="62">Internet</g> for all citizens of the country,” Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written statement to the Rajya Sabha.

Net neutrality implies that equal treatment be accorded to all Internet traffic and no priority be given to an entity or company based on payment to content or service providers such as telecom companies, which is seen as discriminatory.  The neutrality debate flared up in India after telecom operator Airtel launched a platform, Airtel Zero, that would allow free access of some websites on its network. However, the companies were asked to pay Airtel for joining the platform.

The debate recently again picked up steam following a report released by the Department of Telecom panel. The panel report earned sharp criticism from large section in the country as it proposed regulation of domestic calls made using Internet-based calling or VoIP applications such as Skype, Whatsapp and <g data-gr-id="45">Viber,</g> and put them on par with phone call services offered by telecom operators.

At present, consumers can make a minute VoIP calls at <g data-gr-id="65">almost</g> negligible price compared to traditional calls. The panel also opposed projects like Facebook’s Internet.org, which allows access to certain websites without mobile data charges, while suggesting that similar plans such as Airtel Zero be allowed with prior clearance from TRAI.

“Government has constituted a committee, which has submitted its report to the DoT. The report has been uploaded on <g data-gr-id="53">website</g> of DoT and MyGov portal on July 16, 2015 for comments and suggestions. The Committee report is not the government report which is yet to take a decision,” Prasad said.

He further said the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is also engaged in consultation process covering the issues related to Net neutrality, whose recommendations are awaited.

“Based on the committee report, comments and suggestions received and recommendations of TRAI, <g data-gr-id="49">government</g> will take a considered decision on various aspects of Net neutrality in the best interest of <g data-gr-id="50">country</g>,” Prasad said.

Earlier this week, Prasad said that telecom operators may face heavy penalties or suspension of licences if they fail to stop <g data-gr-id="48">unauthorised</g> interception of communications and maintain ‘extreme secrecy’ of citizens’ messages. Interception and monitoring of communication messages is governed by the provisions of Indian Telegraph Act which empowers Central and state governments to carry out interception under stipulated conditions, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The Minister said rule under Indian Telegraph Rules provides that service providers shall put in place adequate internal checks to ensure that unauthorised interception of messages does not take place. He said extreme secrecy is maintained and utmost care and precaution is taken in matter of interception as it affects privacy of <g data-gr-id="58">citizen</g>s.

“The service providers shall be responsible for actions of their employees also in case of established violation of licence conditions pertaining to maintenance of secrecy and confidentiality of information and unauthorised interception of communication ... <g data-gr-id="67">action</g> shall be taken against the service providers as per provisions of the said Act and this shall include not only fine but also suspension or revocation of their licences,” the Minister said.

He said the Department of Telecom has mandated all operators as part of licence conditions that they should take all necessary steps to safeguard privacy and confidentiality of any information about a third party and its business to whom it provides services and from whom it has acquired such information.