Airtel has launched a new platform for app developers which allows users of their apps to access their services free of charge. According to various reports, Flipkart has already come on board with the service. The service allows companies/developers to buy data to offer apps to their users for free. While this may appear to be good news for the end consumer, it violates the principles of net neutrality which says that all bits are equal. TRAI recognised this in a consultation paper released last week.
The break up of internet into separate layers can prove to be disastrous in the end with service providers speeding up and speeding down or introducing differentiated pricing for certain data traffic at their will. Facebook has also partnered with Reliance for providing Internet.org which provides free access to certain important sites in order to spread awareness and increase literacy levels and is aimed at people who cannot access internet due to budget constraints.
Airtel is calling it a marketing platform for big marketers as well as small time app developers to “make parts or their entire mobile app free for customers – thus reviving interest of dormant customers, attracting new potential users and increasing retention”. Airtel adds that the model is based upon toll-free voice calling model already being followed in India.
Airtel has further clarified that Airtel Zero is a B2B platform and the pricing structure is open and discriminatory. However, it is not clear, how long it can stay that way when certain apps like Flipkart have more users than others. Also, one of the basic premises of net neutrality is to stop the service providers from positively discriminating against certain apps. This would inevitably lead to the break up of internet as free and paid. Also, it wouldn’t be fair on the numerous start ups with lesser funding. Add to that the idea that certain sites will be exclusive on certain service providers and it makes for a very scary picture.
