India's Telecomm Commission, on Wednesday, approved the net neutrality rules which imply that the internet will be equal for everybody in India. Alongside the net neutrality rules, the highest decision-making body in the Department of Telecommunications also approved new telecom policy - national Digital Communications Policy (NDCP), 2018. This policy aims at promoting investments, ease of doing business and emerging technologies such as 5G. Net Neutrality Approved by Government, Internet to Remain Fair For All.

What is Net Neutrality?

Net Neutrality is fundamentally an idea wherein all the internet service providers should treat all the data as equal. Under the net neutrality regulations, an ISP is not allowed to block or slow down contents or website intentionally. The net neutrality is a move from TRAI to ensure that no service provider can restrict or discriminate in content by blocking or slowing down or proffering preferential speeds while providing internet access.

Here are the five essential things you should know about Net Neutrality.

1. Free and open Internet stimulates ISP competition, helps prevent unfair pricing practices, promotes innovation, promotes the spread of ideas, drives entrepreneurship and most importantly protects freedom of speech.

2. With net neutrality, the user gets the freedom of accessing anything on Google as well as making contacts on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and others. Currently, the majority of the ISPs in the country adhere to the principal of gentlemen’s agreement of net neutrality.

3. With no neutrality on the internet, the ISP wants to alter the net functionality and collect money from companies like Netflix and Facebook for providing their data to the users unimpeded. However, if the amount charged is not paid, then the internet speed of the website or app could be reduced, reported previously Business Insider.

4. While barring telecom operators from proffering differential pricing of data, TRAI has put an end to Facebook Free Basics and Airtel Zero. Moreover, the regulator has recommended a change in the licences conditions to restrict any form of discrimination in Internet access as per the content. The DoT will also be framing a policy on net neutrality traffic management.

5. After the commission meeting, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said that particular important services will not fall under the range of the net neutrality rules.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 12, 2018 11:24 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).