J&K&L HC: Undenied Pleadings are Deemed Admitted by Implication under the CPC  ||  Kerala HC: Transfer Order Pending Disciplinary Proceedings Cannot be Disguised as Punishment  ||  Allahabad HC: GST, Incentives, 0r Festival Advances Cannot be Deducted From Employee’s Retiral Dues  ||  SC: Absconding Accused Cannot Claim Anticipatory Bail Solely Because a Co-Accused Was Acquitted  ||  Supreme Court: District Cricket Bodies Must Adopt Good Governance Voluntarily, Not Follow BCCI Rules  ||  Supreme Court: Post-Award Property Purchasers Cannot Resist Execution of an Arbitral Award  ||  SC: Telecom Spectrum is a Community Resource and its Ownership Cannot be Decided under the IBC  ||  SC: Police Failure to Invoke IPC Provisions Led to Contractor’s Acquittal in Cement Stockpiling Case  ||  SC: Bank’s Internal Classification of Debt as NPA Does Not Determine Limitation under the IBC  ||  Bombay HC: Clarifies Procedure for Executing Foreign Decrees    

Differential pricing stopped, differentiation possible still - (08 Feb 2016)

MANU/TRAI/0017/2016

Media and Communication

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released the ‘Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016’, restraining internet service providers from offering or charging discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content. The Regulations do not apply to tariffs for data services over closed electronic communications networks, unless of course the same purport to bypass the Regulations. However, permitted is a reduction in tariff for accessing or providing emergency services or during public emergencies (perfunctory, perhaps, since the Supreme Court stayed mum over States’ authority to block internet access to maintain law and order). Internet service providers contravening provisions of the Regulations can face penalties up to Rs. 50 lakhs. An accompanying Explanatory Memorandum accepted the dilemma forced by a potentially more affordable internet with the possibility of a negative effect on small content providers who would be sidelined. The Regulations made no mention of a selective prioritizing of web content, which is seen as another limb in the creation of “classes” of internet. Whereas data “throttling” suggests a wholesale reduction in download or upload speeds, also is a technical ability of service providers to prioritise delivery (or ‘speed’) of certain data. Such a capability can help manage time-sensitive data when networks face particularly heavy demands from users. Transfer of online videos, for instance, can be prioritised over the delivery of webpages, slowing their download perceptibly or im-, to reduce the incidence of ‘buffering’. So, the next time that Ministry of Finance video on YouTube doesn’t stutter on a Saturday, remember your connection to hpf-india.com/ may be paying the price.

Tags : DIFFERENTIAL PRICING   REGULATIONS   TRAI   2016  

Share :        

Disclaimer | Copyright 2026 - All Rights Reserved