Trai Gets 24 Lakh Comments on Differential Data Pricing Paper

Thursday was the last day to send in the views. This is the record number of comments the regulator has received so far.

"We have received about 24 lakh comments on the paper," a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) official told PTI.

The official added that around 18 lakh out of the whole lot relate to Facebook's Free Basics.

Facing flak for its controversy-ridden Internet platform Free Basics, the social networking giant has launched an email campaign to garner support to its plea that Trai's Net neutrality rules should not "end up depriving people of the opportunity to come online".

(Also see: Facebook Fights for Free Internet in India, Global Test-Case)

It has also been running full-page advertisements in multiple dailies as part of its 'Free Basics' campaign.

However, Trai has not been amused with Facebook's intense lobbying efforts and has been critical of a vast majority of the replies talking about a template provided by Facebook without commenting on the broader issues of the debate.

(Also see:  Facebook Launches 'Save Free Basics' Campaign in India)

As per SavetheInternet forum, the net neutrality principle says Internet service providers should not block or discriminate against any applications or content riding on their network.

Trai is consulting the public to firm up its recommendations over services that lead to differential pricing of data or the Internet.

(Also see: Free Basics vs. Free Internet)

Free Basics allows access to content or application hosted on it for free in partnership with the telecom operator.

The platform has been opposed by Net neutrality volunteers as also industry bodies Nasscom and IAMAI, who claim that it locks the user to limited content offered for free on discretion of Facebook.

Although the paper does not mention or use the term net neutrality, it details the idea of zero-rating platforms that have stirred up the big debate across the country on the issue.