2. Internet Today
The internet stands as a collection of privately owned servers and
end hosts.
ISPs have the ability to deny their customers access to the
internet, or even specific parts of it.
This is because big cable and telephone companies, want to
charge content providers for having more bandwidth and
priority.
3. An Introduction to Net Neutrality
WHAT IS NET NEUTRALITY ?
• It is a principle that all Internet Service Providers(ISPs) should
enable access to all contents and applications regardless of the
source and without favoring or blocking particular products or
websites.
• This means, Net Neutrality is about:
– No gateways, censorship or selection,
– No speeding up of specific websites,
– No “zero rating” or making some sites free over others.
4. HOW IT STARTED ?
• The term was coined by Columbia University media law
professor Tim Wu in 2003.
• Comcast’s interference with Bittorent traffic on its network lead
to the investigation and creation of “Open Internet Rules”.
• Involved “transparency and prohibiting, blocking and
unreasonable discrimination to protect Internet openness”.
• The debate on net neutrality in India gathered public attention
after Airtel, in December 2014 announced additional charges for
making voice calls (VoIP) from its network using apps like
Whatsapp, Skype, etc.
5. WHY DO TELECOM COMPANIES DON’T WANT NET
NEUTRALITY ??
They spend lot of money
They are losing traditional voice call or text message revenues
because of alternatives like Whatsapp, Viber etc.
but OTT is eating into revenues making it impossible to earn
their investment back
Comcast, Verizon, AT & T, Time Warner, Cox, Airtel, Idea.
8. What did TRAI do about it ?
In March 2015, Telecom Regulatory Authority of
India (TRAI) released a formal consultation paper
on ”Regulatory Framework for Over-the-top
(OTT)services”, seeking comments from the public.
The consultation paper was criticised for being one
sided and having confusing statements. It received
condemnation from various politicians and Indian
Internet users.
9. PROS
A basic freedom will be lost.
A blow to creativity and innovation.
Preferential treatment.
Higher fees for sites they don’t like
No capitalism.
Allowing a level market
No restrictions.
No censorship.
10. No bandwidth throttling.
ISP’s may be doing some kind of filtering to your traffic to lower the
load which is straining their bandwidth
No “Pay to Play”
11. Cons
Net neutrality regulations make it illegal for broadband
providers to offer “fast lanes" to those who are willing to pay
extra. It neglects cases in which “fast-lanes" can help save lives.
No ease of access to certain sites.
Stifling creativity and innovation.
It puts everyone in the same boat
Anti- Competition
Choosing a favorite
Restrictions or censorship
ISP’s along with government can decide what can be accessed.
12. Throttling
ISPs can decide what types of services have prefer transfer
rates.
Monitoring.
13. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO PROTECT NET
NEUTRALITY ?
• Two large neutrality websites: savetheinternet.org and
saveoutnet.ca
• The have held rallies and they release a weekly blog to
boast people.
• Google, Microsoft, Amazon have supported net neutrality
• Other Indian companies like Cleartrip, NDTV pulled out
of Internet.org
• Flipkart withdrew from Airtel Zero.
14. CONCLUSION
The internet is basically neutral now
A free flow of uncensored information is in the
marketplace
There is an opportunity for new developers to
share their ideas with the world by not crippling
them financially.