Slashdot Mirror
India Blocks Facebook's Free Basics Internet Service (thestack.com)
An anonymous reader writes: India's leading telecom regulator, TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), has today voted against differential pricing, ruling with immediate effect that all data prices must be equal, and that companies cannot offer cheaper rates than others for certain content. The call is a significant blow to Facebook's Free Basics (previously Internet.org) initiative and Airtel Zero – projects which work to make internet access more accessible by providing a free range of "basic" services. The watchdog confirmed that providers would no longer be able to charge for data based on discriminatory tariffs but instead that pricing must be "content agnostic." It added that fines of Rs. 50,000 – 50 Lakh would be enforced should the regulations be violated.
Alternate title: "India insists on network neutrality"
And this is a prime example of why network neutrality is _wrong_.
Here is a company, willing to offer free access to some content to many people. People would obviously benefit, otherwise nobody would use it. The company (facebook) would benefit, by having more customers and what not. It is a clear cut win-win. The only party that is negatively affected are competitors ISP which are surely lobbying at the TRAI ears.
So government steps in and makes it illegal for said free service to be provided, arguing it is the best for its people.
The net neutrality advocates completely ignore the fact that people (like in this case) would actually prefer a free non network neutral service than an expensive network neutral internet access.
This is slashdot, 9 out of 10 are in favor of net neutrality, so go ahead, mod me down.
You're using a story about corporate cronyism and government monopoly to support your argument on the benefits of Socialism?
You are one dumb motherfucker.