Trai unveils draft service quality norms for network slicing
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has released draft quality of service norms to regulate network slicing, a technology allowing providers to offer varying internet speeds for different consumer categories. The proposed rules require operators to ensure sufficient network capacity and report specific speed offerings for each tariff plan before implementation.
Why it matters
This move could fundamentally alter India's internet landscape by enabling tiered service pricing, raising significant concerns regarding the future of net neutrality and equitable access.
NEW DELHI: Network slicing, which enables telecom service providers to provide different speeds of internet to different categories of consumers, could soon become a reality in India. Following a request from some large operators, the telecom department had asked Trai to examine this, and on Wednesday, the regulator issued a draft quality of service norms that factor in this controversial technology that some fear may affect net neutrality.The draft amendments to the Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wireline and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024, say: “...service provider must ensure that sufficient…
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