Why Network Neutrality Means Democracy For All On The Web

For startups to survive and flourish, there should be a level playing ground where every bit of date is treated equally (Picture Credit: wikimedia.org)

For nearly two decades, we have accessed the internet without giving much thought to whether Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in India would treat every bit equally. Since its inception, the “end-to-end” principle that networks should transmit generic packets irrespective of their content has largely been the norm on the internet. But lately, the principle of network neutrality has been under threat from ISPs like Airtel and Facebook’s Internet.org platform.

On May 4, 2015, Facebook announced that it will open up its Internet.org service to everyone at no cost, allowing any website to be accessible to consumers for free. But, such websites should not use VoIP, video, file transfer, high resolution photos, and high volume of photos, JavaScript or SSL/TLS/HTTPS. In April 2015, Airtel had launched ‘Airtel Zero’, a marketing platform that allows consumers to access applications at zero data charge, as long as the app developers pay for this. Eventually, internet startups would find this move unfavourable to their business.

PropTiger.com is an internet startup. We support net neutrality because we believe that ISPs should not block, interfere with or discriminate against any lawful content, application or service. We believe that ISPs should allow consumers to use broadband service to receive and send data without imposing illegitimate constraints. If ISPs violate network neutrality principles and engage in unfair or discriminatory practices, startups like PropTiger.com will be at a disadvantage for lack of democracy on the internet such practises would bring about.

While building an application, or creating a new feature, it would be unreasonable for ISPs to expect startups like PropTiger.com will have to enter, or renegotiate a contract with them. Startups will also not be able to afford the cost of upgrading telecom networks. Claiming that their services impose strain on networks or breach legal or regulatory requirements, ISPs will be able to hinder the services of startups.

If net neutrality principles are violated, ISPs will be able to slow down or impede services for app developers or websites to maximize their revenues. Moreover, if ISPs treat websites and app developers differently, large organizations like Facebook and Google will pay for preferential treatment, impeding the chances of success of small websites and internet startups. ISPs might also impede services of startups which compete with theirs, giving preferential treatment to their own services. Also, when internet users can choose between free and fast lanes, and slow and paid lanes, they are likely to choose free and fast lanes. This would prevent many startups from reaching out to people over the web.

Small startups cannot pay for services which are otherwise available for consumers for free. This is true not just of PropTiger.com, but of other startups too because as internet penetration in India is rising tremendously, they cannot afford not to have an active online presence.  

Violation of network neutrality principles will impede innovation because almost every successful company on the internet was once a fledgling startup. To allow a startup to survive and flourish, there should be a level playing ground where every bit of data is treated equally. But, we hope that the internet users in India will continue to protest against this. In December 2014, Airtel had to roll back its plan to charge its users for VoIP calls. Recently, Flipkart also opted out of the Airtel Zero plan. Human nature being what it is, ISPs that dilute the principles of network neutrality might soon find their decision to be a financial and public relations disaster.