Net Neutrality

Hi,

In reference to the questions published by you in the following url https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kNXtANR9UV6fSjV2DNrkcIMAJVVN4CJfHHiq_0kkx8E/preview?sle=true PFB for the answers.

Question 1: Is it too early to establish a regulatory framework for Internet/OTT services, since internet penetration is still evolving, access speeds are generally low and there is limited coverage of high-speed broadband in the country? Or, should some beginning be made now with a regulatory framework that could be adapted to changes in the future? Please comment with justifications.

Answer: I mean is it a question? Of course it's way too early. I'm a student in Kolkata who's using a broadband connection, I pay Rs. 750 per month to get a 512Kbps connection and having a download speed of 65Kbps. You can't call this a high speed broadband right? And in rural area the situation is even worse. So I personally don't feel any regulatory framework is necessary.

Question 2: Should the Internet/OTT players offering communication services (voice, messaging and video call services through applications (resident either in the country or outside) be brought under the licensing regime? Please comment with justifications.

Answer: Yes Internet/ OTT players offering communication services (voice, messaging and video call services through applications (resident either in the country or outside) be brought under the licensing regime for the sake of making these Internet/ OTT players authorized.

Question 3: Is the growth of Internet/OTT impacting the traditional revenue stream of Telecom operators/Telecom operators? If so, is the increase in data revenues of the Telecom Operators sufficient to compensate for this impact? Please comment with reasons.

Answer: Growth of Internet/OTT is not impacting the traditional revenue stream of Telecom operators/Telecom operators. Previously these telecom operators were only generating revenues from calls, sms etc but now with advent of 2g, 3g, 4g services being provided by them, they are generating a huge revenue from that so NO, the growth of Internet/OTT is NOT impacting the traditional revenue stream of Telecom operators/Telecom operators, rather it's helping to increase the revenue of Telecom operators/Telecom operators.

Question 4: Should the Internet/OTT players pay for use of the Telecom Operators network over and above data charges paid by consumers? If yes, what pricing options can be adopted? Could such options include prices based on bandwidth consumption? Can prices be used as a means of product/service differentiation? Please comment with justifications.

Answer: Ofcouse NOT. When consumer are using Internet/OTT they are using it through Telecom Operators network for which the consumers are paying data charges. For example, suppose for whatsapp if a certain consumer is using 3 MB of data per day, theyy in 30 days he's using 90 MB, now for using this 90MB data he needs a data pack, be it 3g or 2g else 10p/10KB has to be paid by the consumer for the usage. No the prices cannot be used as a means of product/service differentiation as that would be hampering net neutrality.

Question 5: Do you agree that imbalances exist in the regulatory environment in the operation of Internet/OTT players? If so, what should be the framework to address these issues? How can the prevailing laws and regulations be applied to Internet/OTT players (who operate in the virtual world) and compliance enforced? What could be the impact on the economy? Please comment with justifications.

Answer: Well in this case a regulatory environment may be formed to verify whether the customer is getting the appropriate service from the Internet/OTT players that he has paid for NOT to regulate how much bandwidth may be consumed for a certain OTT player.

Question 6: How should the security concerns be addressed with regard to Internet/OTT players providing communication services? What security conditions such as maintaining data records, logs etc. need to be mandated for such Internet/OTT players? And, how can compliance with these conditions be ensured if the applications of such Internet/OTT players reside outside the country? Please comment with justifications.

Answer: For the time being I think ISP/ OTT players is taking care of that. You may need not bother(As of now).

Question 7: How should the Internet/OTT players offering app services ensure security, safety and privacy of the consumer? How should they ensure protection of consumer interest? Please comment with justifications

Answer: To answer this I'd be requiring a formal definition as what you're calling consumer interest. Being said that I think enough measures are taken by OTT players to ensure security, safety and privacy of the consumers. If that was not the case people would not be using them at all.

And to the rest of the questions I personally found them to be too boring and repetitive. But I stand against that "any Telecom Operator should charge fees from content providers".

Thanks & Regards,

Subhrajit Sadhukhan