Company representatives have been clambering over each other to re-affirm their dedication to net neutrality following the public backlash they received, and their subsequent decision to distance themselves from the Airtel Zero plan.
The co- founder Myntra and chief marketing officer of e-commerce giant Flipkart, Mukesh Bansal, on Tuesday said Flipkart has always been in favour of net-neutrality and will continue doing so, as it is extremely important both from consumer's point of view and all the players who are providing services.
"There is something that we have been thinking about in fact for a long while, we are absolutely committed to the principles of net neutrality. We believe in the long term democracy of internet. Equal access to internet is extremely important both from consumer's point of view and all the players who are providing services on that," Bansal told media persons here.
"We have always supported net neutrality and will continue doing so. We did look into zero reading concepts and on one hand we felt that being able to make free internet available to consumers could be useful. But after looking deeply we realised that it can lead down to a path that net neutrality can get compromised in future and something that we are not supportive of at all," he added.
Bansal further said that equal access to internet and equal treatment to all services on internet are very important for healthy growth of internet interim services in the country.
"Flipkart has always taken a consumer first stance whenever we evaluate a choice or made a decision, we have made our role in growth of internet and adoption of internet in the country...so, I want to very clearly share that we are not participating in any zero-reading programme. And, we will do everything we can, as Flipkart, to make sure we have held all the principles and spirit of net- neutrality," Bansal added.
Meanwhile, Flipkart has pulled itself out of the Airtel deal amid backlash over net neutrality issue.
Also read: Net Neutrality: Flipkart pulls away from Airtel Zero
Net neutrality is a principle whereby internet service providers and governments are expected to treat all internet websites and services as equal, without discriminating or charging differential tariff based on users, content, websites, services or mode of communication.
Amidst the debate on net neutrality, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had earlier said a six-member panel has been constituted by the telecom department to submit its recommendations regarding the same by early next month.
Also read: Takers of our freedom 0 - 1 Net Neutrality. But wait, there’s more
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