A completely new era of the internet revolution is on the verge of beginning in India. The entire game plan of telecom giants like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel is soon going to change completely. In fact, the government is now considering a serious review of the current net neutrality rules in the country. Under this, telecom companies could be allowed to provide differentiated connectivity or high-speed internet for specialized and advanced services like gaming, healthcare, autonomous vehicles, and smart factories. Additionally, companies could be allowed to charge different rates for general mobile users and specialized services. Current rules prohibit telecom companies from offering such differentiated services, but due to rapid changes in technology, especially 5G slicing, the old rules are now becoming increasingly rigid and redundant.
What is net neutrality and why is it needed?
Net neutrality simply means that all data and traffic flowing on the internet should be treated equally, without discrimination. This includes internet speed and latency. Under this, no content should be intentionally blocked or slowed down, nor should any specific content be given preferential speed or better treatment based on monetary considerations. These net neutrality rules were officially implemented in India in 2018. However, since the launch of 5G services in the country in 2022, considerable confusion and ambiguity has arisen regarding the implementation of these rules, especially regarding 5G slicing. This has forced the government to consider reviewing these rules.
New instructions given to TRAI, comparison is being made with America and Europe
A senior official with inside knowledge of the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, told media reports that the government has directed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to expedite the matter. TRAI has been instructed to recommend any necessary changes or clarifications to the existing net neutrality rules.
Speaking of countries around the world, the European Union (EU) and several other nations are currently reviewing their net neutrality rules, while the US has completely repealed its federal net neutrality rules. However, some US states still have their own net neutrality rules in place. The official emphasized that India will implement robust safeguards to prevent any “walled garden” practices or malpractices. He clarified that the internet will remain completely free and open to the general public, and that paying for preferential treatment to specific websites or selected content will not be permitted.
How does this new 5G slicing technology work?
5G slicing is a cutting-edge technology that allows telecom companies to create multiple virtual “slices” within a single infrastructure. Each slice acts as an independent, separate network, allowing for complete customization of bandwidth based on needs and usage. This technology allows telecom companies to operate secure virtual networks for specific applications, such as online gaming, the healthcare sector, driverless autonomous vehicles, smart factories, and robotics.
Each slice can be dedicated to a specific service, while general internet services like web surfing and video viewing can continue to run smoothly on a separate slice without interruption or modification. While there are no strict regulations directly prohibiting 5G slicing, prioritizing its use for providing separate or specialized services could be considered a potential violation of regulations.
What are the big plans of Jio and Airtel ahead?
Both Airtel and Jio are poised to capitalize on this technology in the Indian market. Bharti Airtel has already launched a service that uses 5G slicing to offer differentiated services, such as improved speeds and lower latency, to its post-paid customers. However, this new service is currently under close scrutiny by the sector regulator, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
Similarly, Reliance Jio, the country’s second largest telecom company, has announced its plans to extensively utilize 5G slicing capabilities to further improve network coverage and data capacity in densely populated urban areas. It’s worth noting that not only India, but developed countries like the US, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, and China are also actively using 5G network slicing to provide differentiated and advanced services to their customers.