Re: cellular operator association has bizarre interpretation of Net neutrality

Arun,

Interesting definition indeed!

I suppose they have sent sms to their clients asking them whether they wish
data rate to go up 6x or have "net neutrality" / "level playing field" - so
a normal person would agree with the second one as nobody wants their data
cost increased!

What they are highlighting is the issue with "internet" per-se globally.
The classic example was in USA where the "pipe provider" was (long
distance) AT&T and it went bankrupt. It was bought by a "baby bell" mobile
company and kept the name AT&T). Most of the investment is in providing
connectivity and the "last mile" people (ISP or mobile) make (some) money
by direct link with end customer.

All, incl. mobile operator, use IP since the circuit switched "exchanges"
are being phased out rapidly since they are no longer economical. The main
revenue return-on-investment was and still is "voice"; so if OTT
cannabilises the main revenue stream, who pays for the massive investments
required?

Best wishes,
Kirit

On 7 May 2015 at 08:43, Arun Mehta <[email protected]> wrote:

> The cellular operators want the exact opposite of Net neutrality. They
> want anyone offering Net telephony, such as Skype, Whatsapp and Google
> Hangouts, to be forced to obtain a license and pay license fees.  If not,
> they will be forced to raise the cost for the awful data connectivity they
> offer by up to 6 times! Gee. Blackmail!
>
> They claim that within 10 days of launching an online campaign, they
> already have 4 million messages of support.
>
> I would like to know how they formulated the questions they asked.
> Unfortunately, you can't get any information from their website, until you
> register. Talk about openness.
>
> Airtel has already received a thrashing on Net neutrality. What does COAI
> expect, after such blackmail attempts?
>
> warmly,
>
> Arun Mehta
>
>
> http://tech.firstpost.com/news-analysis/net-neutrality-cellular-operators-association-gets-support-of-4-million-indians-265981.html
>
> Four million mobile subscribers have supported COAI’s campaign favouring
> net neutrality for internet-based communication services like WhatsApp and
> Skype and their being subject to norms similar to those applying to mobile
> phone operators, the apex body of cellular operators said.
>
> “Sabka Internet, Sab ka Vikas — the campaign for net neutrality, net
> equality and consumer choice, has received support from over 40 lakh Indian
> mobile users in under a week,” the Cellular Operators Association of India
> (COAI) said in a statement here.
>
> “The entire mobile number database of supporters is auditable on request
> by the appropriate agency,” it added.
>
> Launched last week, “Sabka Internet, Sab ka Vikas”, a campaign about
> making the Internet accessible and affordable for every Indian, seeks a
> level playing field with net-based services like Skype and WhatApp.
>
> The industry body said if the telecom operators are not offered a level
> playing field with net-based services, then their businesses would be
> viable only by raising data prices by up to six times.
>
> It comes against the backdrop of the debate over net neutrality and
> allegations that telecom operators are hurting the concept of free internet
> access by giving preferential treatment to a select few service providers.
>
> “COAI started the outreach effort to ensure that mobile customers have the
> freedom to benefit from the power of the Internet in the way they would
> wish to, including the choice of platform, device and technology,” said
> COAI director general Rajan S. Mathews.
>
> The net neutrality principle came into focus in India following mobile
> operator Airtel’s launch of an open marketing platform ‘Airtel Zero’, and
> the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s consultation paper on whether
> telecom firms could be allowed to charge different rates for different uses
> of Internet data such as e-mail, browsing and for use of apps like
> Whatsapp, Viber and Skype.
>
> *IANS*
>
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>
>

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