Dear Sir,  

With reference to the recent news items regarding “OTT” services and net neutrality,
I would like share a consumer’s view with you. I also happen to be a telecom developer.

In my previous assignments, I have been Program Manager at CDOT for
switching system software, Project Manager at Motorola India for their CDMA Wireless
Local Loop product, and Technical Manager at Lucent Technologies for their EVDO
product.

With reference to cell and broadband services, we already pay a large monthly rental
for both voice and data.

With respect to so called OTT services, this is a misnomer, since they are nothing
but data transmissions, already covered by the rental, typically for a certain amount of
data per month. Any usage beyond that limit is again charged by the operator.

Asking consumers to pay for OTT services is asking them to pay twice for the same
bits and bytes being carried. As I am sure you are aware, all internet services
come over the same connection, be they email or video or text. If we use an analogy
from elsewhere, all that the telecom operators are really doing is acting as a transport
company.  

Violation of net neutrality would be like a truck operator asking to be paid extra if
the apples being transported are red instead of green. At the same time they are
charging by weight as well!

thanking you,

Sanjay Mehta
Bangalore