Since last few months we have been hearing about Net Neutrality. Do you know what net neutrality is? Do you think that it’s an issue that doesn’t require your attention?
Well net neutrality is something that is going to affects everyone. Imagine if in future we have to pay heavy amount for using apps like skype, whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram and not able to access the other sites we want to, this should really bother us, and we all should be concerned about it.
Let’s know what is Net Neutrality?
In common net neutrality means you are free to access all the content and sites on internet at the speed you’re paying for.
In technical terms, Net Neutrality means an Internet that enables and protects free speech. It means that Internet service providers should provide us with open networks — and should not block or discriminate against any applications or content that ride over those networks. Just as your phone company shouldn’t decide who you can call and what you say on that call, your ISP shouldn’t be concerned with the content you view or post online.
Till now we have the right to access almost everything of world wide web. But not for long if Telecom operators want to change that.
Telecom operators in the country want to change that. They have approached the TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) to allow deferential internet access to users all over the country. They plan to charge a fee to access any sites/ contents.
How it will affect us?
Without Net Neutrality, cable and phone companies could carve the Internet into fast and slow lanes. An ISP could slow down its competitors’ content or block political opinions it disagreed with. ISPs could charge extra fees to the few content companies that could afford to pay for preferential treatment — relegating everyone else to a slower tier of service. This would destroy the open Internet.
Why is Net Neutrality important for businesses?
Net Neutrality is crucial for small business owners, startups and entrepreneurs, who rely on the open Internet to launch their businesses, create a market, advertise their products and services, and distribute products to customers. We need the open Internet to foster job growth, competition and innovation.
Net Neutrality lowers the barriers of entry for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses by ensuring the Web is a fair and level playing field. It’s because of Net Neutrality that small businesses and entrepreneurs have been able to thrive on the Internet. They use the Internet to reach new customers and showcase their goods, applications and services.
No company should be able to interfere with this open marketplace. ISPs are by definition the gatekeepers to the Internet, and without Net Neutrality, they would seize every possible opportunity to profit from that gatekeeper control.
Let’s support & #SaveTheInternet
The upcoming reforms on net neutrality may drastically change the way we are leveraging the power of internet. We have to stand up and raise our voices for net neutrality.
Let’s get together to #SaveTheInternet : http://www.savetheinternet.com/sti-home
Image courtesy: http://www.shoutmeloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Net-neutrality-internet-free-the-internet-india.jpg
Content Courtesy: http://www.netneutrality.in/
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