COAI had launched the 'Sabka Internet, Sabka Vikas' campaign on April 24 to 'connect 1 billion unconnected citizens' to the internet, and demanded 'same rules for same services'. The campaign, that went to subscribers via an SMS programme, asked them to register their support for 'an affordable internet' by registering a missed call.
As the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) works out the rules and regulations governing 'Net Neutrality' in India, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Monday said that about 4 million subscribers have come out in support of their version of 'Net Neutrality'.
COAI had launched the 'Sabka Internet, Sabka Vikas' campaign on April 24 to 'connect 1 billion unconnected citizens' to the internet, and demanded 'same rules for same services'. The campaign, that went to subscribers via an SMS programme, asked them to register their support for 'an affordable internet' by registering a missed call.
Speaking to dna, COAI chief Rajan Mathews said that the SMS programme went out to those who do not have access to the internet. "We chose an SMS programme to reach out to those who do not have a smart phone, and registered the support of 4 million subscribers. This information is available and auditable," said Mathews.
However, he added that the survey was not an official one. "No one will be able to get in touch with TRAI with the campaign. We gathered the views of the people to intimate their interests to TRAI, so that they can include our definition of net neutrality," said Mathews.
The people behind the 'savetheinternet' campaign, which sent over a million replies to TRAI in support of Net Neutrality, reacted by saying that COAI is fooling subscribers. "This is not an official campaign, and it does not even explain which side of the fence is COAI on. They are misinforming people, their definition of 'net neutrality' is in actuality the definition of 'net equality'," said Kiran Jonnalagadda, founder of Bengaluru-based startup HasGeek, who is one of the people behind the campaign. "There are more than 300 million mobile subscribers in India, and if their grassroots campaign got only 4 million pledged their support to COAI, then they have failed."
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