Only 21 Counter-Comments to 24 Lakh Submissions on Differential Pricing

Telecom operators, including Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Reliance Communications, through industry bodies, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and Association of Unified Telecom Service of India (AUSPI), countered inputs opposing the idea of pricing the Internet services.

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"Price differentiation will allow TSPs to cater to specific consumer requirements, including facilitation of access to those segments that are currently unconnected or poorly connected. Price differentiation is a widely adopted business practice used in many industries," COAI and AUSPI said in their joint counter comments to Trai.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India invited public comments to firm up its views over services that lead to differential pricing of data and January 14 was the last date for submitting countercomments on the same.

Internet Democracy Project (IDP), one of the stakeholders, countered the TSPs, saying telecom operators' comment on Internet-based calling services or VoIP to charge different rates for the Internet and the current debate should not be mixed up.

Another entity, Internet Service Providers Association of India changed its stance slightly in counter comments, saying a blanket ban on non-discriminatory data differential tariff would have an adverse impact on the proliferation of Internet service and may affect tariff innovation.

"In light of the above, we believe that data differential tariffs should be permitted subject to this condition that such differential tariff regime should meet the Trai prescribed principles and Trai continues to securitise each and every differential tariff plan," ISPAI said.

While favouring differential pricing for data services, Facebook countered comments that have singled out the Free Basics programme as an example of a zero-rating plan that should be prohibited.

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It said commentators have falsely claimed that Facebook uses the data obtained from developers using the Free Basics programme to enhance Facebook products and improve advertising.

"That is incorrect; Facebook does not," the social media giant said.

Facebook's Free Basics platform provides free access to a certain set of websites.