In recent weeks, the telecom industry loudly demanded a ‘network usage fee’ from Big Tech platforms whose traffic constitutes a major part of the data flowing through the Indian internet. Internet rights groups have pushed back on these demands, saying that they are a violation of net neutrality, the principle that all data online should be treated equally. These demands come following years of setbacks to the telecom industry’s efforts to get more revenue for data services.
Meanwhile, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), India’s telecom regulator, has sought public comments on this subject, and on whether messaging apps should be regulated. The regulator is asking whether it is possible for telecom operators to work with messaging apps, and social media platforms to block access to their services instead of imposing an internet shutdown. These two issues need some perspective to assess them.