Telecom Commission approves principle of net neutrality, new telecom policy

12 Jul 2018 Evaluate

The Telecom Commission (TC), the highest decision-making body in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has approved the principle of net neutrality, which bar service providers from discriminating against Internet content and services by blocking, throttling or granting them higher speed access. However, certain emerging and critical services such as remote surgery and autonomous cars will be kept out of net neutrality norms.

Apart from this, TC has also approved the new telecom policy ‘National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP), 2018’ for seeking approval of the Union Cabinet. The policy aims to provide access to every household with download speed of 50 Mbps, attract investment of around Rs 6.5 lakh crore in the sector and create four million new job opportunities in the next few years.

In addition, it approved avoidance of double tax on virtual network operators (VNOs) who provide retail services of telecom operators. According to the proposal approved, VNOs will be required to pay levies based on their adjusted gross revenue earned from any value addition that they will be do over the top of service they will buy from telecom operators for selling it to end consumers.

Further, the commission has approved rules for running pilot projects that will be funded from Universal Services Obligation Fund. The pilot projects will be aimed at exploring alternate broadband connectivity technology other than prevalent at the moment like WiFi and mobile Internet and also look at addressing connectivity solutions for less developed districts. 

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