Industry body The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), whose members include Facebook, Google and other Internet companies, has voiced against platforms like Free Basics that can lead to creation of different prices of Net based on content or websites people want to access.
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While Free Basics is now on ice in Egypt and India, the program could make a comeback after regulators in each country have a chance to examine it. While Free Basics toes the line with net neutrality, it is hard to argue the benefits of bringing more people to the modern age, making the issue a worthwhile discussion for each nation in the program.
Egyptian mobile network Etisalat began offering the Free Basics service to mobile customers two months ago.
Trai had also asked Reliance Communications (RCom) to put Facebook’s Free Basics service on hold, according to a report by The Times of India.
Debunking what he calls false claims, Zuckerberg said his service (previously called Internet.org) creates a more open Web, partners with any telco and all developers, and “fully respects net neutrality”. 3G or 4G data comes with a hefty price tag and many people don’t use it.
It was not immediately clear why the program had been halted.
The coalition has said that Facebook is misleading users and cautioned that the free service could be replete with advertising if and when it’s implemented.
The authority had requested stakeholders “to provide comments on the specific questions raised in the consultation paper with justifications so as to formulate appropriate policy guidelines on differential pricing for data services”.
The social media giant has partnered with telecom carriers to provide access to a limited group of services and websites, such as Bing, BBC News, and Wikipedia, amongst others for free. “Because if they sign on, Free Basics can give them phenomenal reach”, said Guhesh Ramanathan, cofounder of Excubator, a startup incubator in Bengaluru.
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Free Basics is “at risk of being banned” in India, Facebook said in the adverts, adding that the service aims to help a billion unconnected Indians-mostly living in poor rural areas-to get online. The latest development in this matter is the massive campaign by Facebook urging people to send emails to TRAI in favour of its Free Basics.
