All eyes on key telecom decision that may have critical implications for net neutrality

Indian telecom industry is keenly waiting for the soon-to-be-announced decision on a critical topic that will have far-reaching ramifications on the net neutrality issue.
According to reports, the digital communications commission (DCC) — the government's top decision-maker for all telecom matters — is about to take a call soon on whether or not to allow telcos to manage network speeds and internet traffic.

While telecom regulator Trai has sought transparency for telecom users and customers, it has backed giving telcos a free hand in the matter. The DCC will now decide if it wants to back Trai's view or reject it.

Trai had said in 2020 that telcos "may be allowed to manage network speeds and traffic", but that this must be based on "carefully-framed rules".

The principle of net neutrality guarantees same internet quality for all users. To ensure adherence to such a non-discriminatory rule, it becomes critical that telcos are transparent about their traffic management practices — which essentially mean things such as "controlling the back-end and flow of mobile networks".

In its recommendations, the regulator had sought transparency on the telcos' part to prevent their management practices from having an impact on services. This could be made possible, Trai had argued, by establishing a multi-stakeholder body to make sure that companies "adhere to the provisions of net neutrality in their licence."

It's this transparency that would ensure that regulators can detect violations of established standards and monitor the quality of services, Trai had stated.