ABSTRACT
Net neutrality asserts that physical means of access to internet must be uniform and non-discriminatory to everyone. Small players, upcoming start-ups and consumers who want the competition to be fair irrespective of size and quality are in support of net neutrality. They believe that the consumers are the right decision makers and will help small businesses grow. This is possible only when internet service providers will make available non-discriminatory service. People who do not favour net neutrality are of the opinion that internet can never be neutral and may actually harm the consumers in the name of promoting innovation and healthy competition. Net neutrality involves interplay of various players such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Content Service providers (Companies), Internet users (IUs) and technology providers. A pricing regime must be designed in such a way that there is a win-win situation for all the players while maintaining the very essence of net neutrality. Neutral Internet means a level playing field. With the growing digital dependence in the ongoing start up culture, net neutrality is the only way the internet will continue to be a free market of ideas where the best ones win and not because an internet provider picked a winner. However innovation must happen at both the network level as well as application level for a healthy internet economy. Any changes in the ISP level shall impact the app providers and vice versa. Thus clear dependency on the mobile applications and internet for business growth, shows the importance of the internet as a utility just like water or power and any regulatory authority must keep in mind all these factors while designing a net neutrality framework. Net neutrality means not just Quality of Service but Quality of Experience also. Hence regulatory authorities must consider the overall experience to customers spanning all levels of the process during transfer of data packets from source to destination (not just ISP level) to ensure complete net neutrality.
