Net Neutrality debate: Not on our radar yet, says Competition Commission of India

The Competition Commission is not looking into the issue of Net neutrality as of now because sectoral regulator Trai is yet to finalise its views on it, CCI member M S Sahoo said on Monday. “We are not concerned about Net neutrality at this point of time as the sectoral regulator is yet to firm up its mind … But we are keeping a watch on it and will act if it is found to be anti-competitive,” Sahoo told reporters in Kolkata. Net neutrality implies that equal treatment be accorded to all Internet traffic and no priority be given to an entity or company based on payment to content or service providers such as telecom companies, which is seen as discriminatory. The neutrality debate flared up in India after telecom operator Airtel launched a platform, Airtel Zero, that would allow free access of some websites on its network. However, the companies were asked to pay Airtel for joining the platform. The Competition Commission of India looks after anti-competitive practices of companies and various agencies. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has meanwhile started the consultation process on the issue of Net neutrality. Last week, a Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Committee opposed platforms like Facebook’s Internet.org that allow access to certain websites without mobile data charges, while suggesting that similar plans by Bharti Airtel be allowed with prior clearance from Trai. Asked whether the big e-commerce companies like Flipkart and others were abusing their dominant position, Sahoo said no anti-competitive practices could be found per se against them. PTI