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It's a free world: Netizens win Neutrality battle

Corporate attempts to restrict Web access defeated; Flipkart pulls out of talks with Airtel Zero

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Many times in the past, Netizens have brought the mightiest of the mighty to knees. They did it again on Tuesday. The uproar over the disruption of Net Neutrality, which means non-discriminatory access to all Internet users, forced leading e-commerce firm Flipkart to backtrack from entering into a deal with the largest telecom firm, Bharti Airtel, that would have given the former an edge over its competitors.

The e-commerce company was the first to jump on to Airtel Zero, an open marketing platform that will provide its users mobile apps for free, while recovering the cost from a revenue-sharing deal with app providers.

But the force of the debate over Net Neutrality has led Flipkart to pull out from discussions with the telco and speak in support of open Internet.

"We had not signed up for a deal. We were in the midst of discussions and can confirm that we have pulled out of that," said a statement issued by the company.

The online store, the largest in India, has not only turned its back on Airtel but expressed its commitment to further the cause of Net Neutrality in India.

"We will be committing ourselves to the larger cause of Net Neutrality in India. We will be working towards ensuring that the spirit of Net Neutrality is upheld and applied equally to all companies in India, irrespective of the size or the service being offered and there is absolutely no discrimination whatsoever," it said.

Airtel also rushed to extend its full support to a non-discriminatory Internet and clearing misconceptions on its marketing platform. "Airtel fully supports the concept of Net Neutrality. There have been some misconceptions about our toll-free data platform – Airtel Zero. It is a not a tariff proposition but an open marketing platform," it said.

It further added that Flipkart's decision not to offer toll-free data service to its customers was consistent with theirs that Airtel Zero was not a tariff proposition.
There was a similar occurrence last year, too, when Airtel had to retrace its step after announcing that it would start charging for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services like Skype, Line and Viber.

It did so because of the backlash from Internet users. From the whiff of the ongoing debate, India's stand on the issue could well be shadowing the US', where a majority of the Net users favour 100% open Internet.
Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, while announcing the formation of a six-member panel for Net Neutrality, displayed his inclination towards an unfettered Internet.

Praveen Sinha of e-commerce company Jabong, which has a daily traffic of 1 million on mobile, Web and app, does not see Airtel Zero as a threat but a bottleneck to growth.

"It could be biased and doesn't give equal opportunity to every ISP (Internet Service Provider) to grow and can be misused for irrational gains in future," he said.

But even as Sinha puts his point in favour of Net Neutrality, he says it could help taking an app to someone, who had never used one before, because it is free on an open marketing platform.

"One must find a fairer way for Internet Inclusion of those who are still not users. They (telcos) must find a way to be fair while creating commercial value for partners," said Sinha.

Bengaluru-based telecom consultant G Krishna Kumar believes India may go in for a selective Net Neutrality approach or a middle path with adequate checks in place.
"Net Neutrality or not, the hyper competitive landscape in our country will ensure quality will prevail over free access," he said.

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