--- layout: default title: "Definition of Net Neutrality Should Be Flexible: Pranesh Prakash" description: "A The Hindu report by Sanjay Vijaykumar on Pranesh Prakash's remarks on net neutrality, zero-rating models, and the need for regulatory flexibility in India." categories: [Media mentions] date: 2015-05-10 authors: ["Sanjay Vijaykumar"] source: "The Hindu" permalink: /media/definition-net-neutrality-flexible-pranesh-prakash-hindu/ created: 2026-05-27 --- **Definition of Net Neutrality Should Be Flexible: Pranesh Prakash** is a *The Hindu* article by Sanjay Vijaykumar, published on 10 May 2015. The report examines Pranesh Prakash's comments on net neutrality, zero-rating models, and regulatory oversight in India, and briefly notes [Sunil Abraham](/sunil/)'s description of Jana Loyalty as a "leaky walled garden". ## Contents 1. [Article Details](#article-details) 2. [Full Text](#full-text) 3. [Context and Background](#context-and-background) 4. [External Link](#external-link) ## Article Details
📰 Published in:
The Hindu
📅 Date:
10 May 2015
👤 Author:
Sanjay Vijaykumar
📄 Type:
News Report
📰 Newspaper Link:
Read Online (Subscription needed)
## Full Text

The definition of Net Neutrality should be flexible enough to allow for experimentation with different models of providing cheaper Internet access and such experimentation needs to be regulated by the telecom regulator, Telecom and Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) according to Internet expert Pranesh Prakash.

Mr. Prakash was reacting to the business model of Boston-based start-up Jana, which said it had figured out a way to offer billions of people in the emerging world free access to the Internet, without violating the web's open nature. The firm has launched Jana Loyalty, a product that seeks to reward its smartphone users in two ways. One, it reimburses users the cost of downloading and using an app of Jana's clients. Two, it gives free additional data with which the user can access any content online.

"While Jana is like Internet.org, since it is Internet service-specific zero-rating, Jana Loyalty is what my colleague Sunil Abraham dubs a 'leaky walled garden'. The walled garden (site-specific access) exists, but you also get free access to the whole of the Web in return. Given that there is no one universal definition of Net Neutrality, and given India currently doesn't have a definition, I can't answer if this is a violation of Net Neutrality," said Mr. Prakash, who is Policy Director at The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), a Bangalore-based non-profit research and policy advocacy organisation.

Facebook's attempts to provide a limited version of the Internet free has been attracting criticism from supporters of Net Neutrality, especially in India. Critics argue that Facebook's Internet.org, which offers users free access to a bouquet of pre-selected Web sites, violates the principle of Net Neutrality by choosing what is accessible and what isn't. Facebook has reacted to this by opening up Internet.org to all developers who meet its guidelines. Mr. Prakash said the definition of Net Neutrality should be flexible enough to allow for experimentation with different models of providing cheaper Internet access, including Jana Loyalty.

"However, such experimentation ought to be regulated by the telecom regulator. To minimise harm, they should be allowed on a case-by-case basis after the regulator has had an opportunity to conduct risk-benefit analysis against four goals it should seek to promote: universal and affordable access; effective competition; protection of consumers against harm; and diversity that arises from the openness and interconnectedness of the Internet," he added.

Net neutrality is a principle that says Internet Service Providers (ISPs) should treat all traffic and content on their networks equally.

Why now?

Late last month, TRAI released a draft consultation paper seeking views from the industry and the general public on the need for regulations for over-the-top (OTT) players such as WhatsApp, Skype, Viber etc, security concerns and net neutrality. The objective of this consultation paper, the regulator said, was to analyse the implications of the growth of OTTs and consider whether or not changes were required in the current regulatory framework.

What is an OTT?

OTT or over-the-top refers to applications and services which are accessible over the internet and ride on operators' networks offering internet access services. The best known examples of OTT are Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, e-commerce sites, Ola, Facebook Messenger. The OTTs are not bound by any regulations. The TRAI is of the view that the lack of regulations poses a threat to security and there's a need for government's intervention to ensure a level playing field in terms of regulatory compliance.

{% include back-to-top.html %} ## Context and Background This report appeared at a time when net neutrality was becoming a major policy issue in India, with telecom operators, internet companies, and civil society groups arguing over whether differential pricing models should be allowed. The immediate policy backdrop was TRAI's consultation on over-the-top services and the broader debate over how internet access and differential pricing models should be regulated in India. The article focuses on Pranesh Prakash's argument that a rigid definition of net neutrality may not suit every access model, especially where companies claimed to widen connectivity through subsidised or zero-rated services. At the same time, the piece makes clear that any such arrangements should be examined by the regulator rather than treated as automatically acceptable. This was also the period when Facebook's Internet.org was drawing intense criticism in India for offering access to a limited set of online services at no charge. In that setting, the discussion around "leaky walled gardens", zero-rating, and consumer harm became central to the broader public debate on competition, openness, and affordable access. ## External Link - [Read on The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/Pranesh-Prakash-on-definition-of-Net-Neutrality/article60327713.ece) (Subscription needed)