The telecom regulator of India, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), has decided to introduce a policy on net neutrality which will enable internet service providers to block or throttle certain content or services at their discretion.
In a statement, the CCI said the new policy will allow ISPs to provide the same level of services to consumers at lower cost.
The policy will be applicable to all internet service services including internet-based content, broadband internet, luminate broadband and other Internet related services.
Internet service providers (ISPs) would be allowed to block, throttle or charge content or content based on the customer’s specific circumstances, the statement said.
It was clarified that the policy would only apply to services provided by the providers, not the content or service itself.
A policy on internet neutrality would have to be adopted by the CCIC by January 21, 2018.
Under the new net neutrality rules, the FCC will have to consider the recommendations of the panel of experts on net neutrality before issuing any net neutrality policy, the regulator said.
The panel is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Dipak Misra.
The panel is composed of members of the three largest telecom players in the country – Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular.
