India Bans Free Basics By Facebook – Net Neutrality Prevails

A visit by the Indian PM to Facebook HQ a year ago accelerated this progress, and the company had allegedly been trying to sneak in their Free Basics with the help of the Digital India campaign that was designed by the Government of India.

Zuckerberg claimed that Facebook’s work with Internet.org around the world has already improved many people’s lives. These new measures have been viewed as a major setback to Facebook’s plan to offer pared back free web services across the country. “This restricts one of Internet.org’s initiatives, Free Basics, as well as programs by other organizations that provide free access to data”, said Zuckerberg. Free Basics, one of Mark Zuckerberg dream projects, offers free but limited access to the Internet on mobile devices.

Critics and Internet activists argue that allowing free access to a select few apps and Web services disadvantages small content providers and start-ups that don’t participate. According to Mark Zuckerberg, with internet connectivity, poverty will be reduced; millions of jobs created, and increase education opportunities.

“Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the internet”, Zuckerberg said in a post on the Facebook yesterday, his first reaction to the ruling of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on net neutrality. We are all disappointed that people in India won’t be able to take advantage of Free Basics – but glad that our other work with Internet.org continues. More than 19 million people in 38 countries have been connected through Facebook’s different programmes.

The Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016, stipulates that “no service provider shall offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content“.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) suspended free Facebook services until a policy decision is reached.

Zuckerberg said that Facebook’s mission was to make the world more open and connected.

To connect everybody in the world, Facebook launched its Free Basics platform. “This move will ensure that the basic tenets of Net Neutrality are followed in India”, said IAMAI.

“The telecom industry is disappointed with TRAI’s decision to rule out differential pricing”.