Summary:
Telecom operators have urged the government to revisit the 2016 net neutrality rules to better suit the 5G era, seeking explicit approval for network slicing to enable premium services such as dedicated upload speeds and low-latency gaming. In submissions to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ahead of the upcoming spectrum auction, they argued that allowing such differentiated offerings would help monetise 5G investments without compromising open internet access. While the original rules were introduced in 2016 following public opposition to preferential platform access, the operators maintain that 5G-based network slicing—deployed through standalone networks by firms such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel—is technology-driven rather than content-based and does not breach neutrality principles.
Telecom companies have reportedly called on the government to reassess the 2016 net neutrality regulations and update them to reflect the requirements of the 5G landscape. They are seeking clear provisions for network slicing, a capability that would enable operators to offer premium pricing for enhanced speeds or guaranteed quality of service, thereby supporting monetisation of their 5G investments.
The operators have presented their feedback on net neutrality to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), urging the authority to revise the existing framework to accommodate network slicing for tariff plans such as dedicated upload speed segments and low-latency gaming segments. These representations were submitted as part of their input in advance of the forthcoming spectrum auction.
Net neutrality norms were established in 2016 after widespread public resistance to telecom providers granting free access to select platforms like Facebook, amid concerns that such arrangements were discriminatory and undermined equal internet access. The operators are not proposing the removal of these protections; rather, they are advocating for an expanded interpretation that would allow network slicing while preserving open internet access for general users.
Additionally, industry leaders have argued that 5G-based network slicing does not violate neutrality standards, since current rules prohibit discrimination based on content, whereas slicing is driven by technological configurations. Enabled by 5G standalone networks rolled out by companies including Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, network slicing facilitates tailored quality of service for particular applications—such as emergency response, large venues, and industrial environments—without disrupting overall network performance.
