Net Neutrality: Internet users caught in the crossfire

Caught in the crossfire are numerous users who are either unaware of the consequences or are still trying to figure out the impact it will have on them. Telecom experts say that non-net neutrality would make telecom operators charge their subscribers for messages on WhatsApp, video call on Skype, browsing e-commerce app like Flipkart or booking a cab on Ola through its mobile apps.

Asked for his comments on net-neutrality, Mr S. Venkat, a marketing executive termed it as a technical jargon connected to Internet and its content. “This is something to do with neutralising the content on the Internet as the web space is full of all types of content,” was his response.

It is not that only elders who are uninformed, few youngsters too have not yet understood this concept.

K. Suman, who works as clerk in a garment company, said that he had not heard about net-neutrality or how it could affect his monthly mobile bill. “I’ve not heard anything about this in the past and why is that TRAI, a government agency supporting this?” he questioned.

Those who are aware of the net neutrality too say TRAI’s consultation paper on the subject had several ambiguities in it. “As new technologies make old ones obsolete, same thing happened in cellphone case too. New apps like WhatsApp, Hike and Skype have made connectivity free so telecom operators should come up with value additions to compensate the loss they incur rather than charging for the apps,” said S. Ramesh, a network engineer.