DoT seeks TRAI review of net neutrality rules as 5G reshapes telecom landscape

New Delhi: The rules of the internet could soon be up for a reboot. The Department of Telecommunications has asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to review India’s net neutrality framework, citing sweeping changes in telecom technology and market dynamics since the regulations were framed nearly a decade ago. The review will examine emerging technologies and network management practices, including 5G network slicing and differentiated service offerings, according to an Economic Times report.

The Department of Telecommunications has asked TRAI to revisit the existing framework to safeguard consumer interests, ensure quality of service, promote the orderly growth of telecommunications services and uphold the principles of fairness, transparency and non-discriminatory treatment of internet traffic.

India’s current net neutrality framework is based on TRAI recommendations issued in 2017, following a public debate over differential pricing models and zero-rating services such as Free Basics by Meta Platforms. The framework requires telecom operators and internet service providers to treat all internet traffic equally, preventing them from blocking, slowing or prioritising specific content or services based on commercial arrangements.

The debate resurfaced recently after Bharti Airtel introduced a premium postpaid offering built on 5G network slicing that promised enhanced network performance during periods of congestion. While Airtel maintained that the service remained content-neutral and did not violate net neutrality principles, critics and rival operator Vodafone Idea questioned whether such differentiated services were consistent with the existing framework. Airtel later renamed the offering Fast Lane while retaining the same underlying technology.

The DoT has argued that the telecommunications sector has undergone significant transformation since 2017, shifting from a voice-led market to one driven by data consumption. Large-scale deployment of 4G and 5G networks, increasing reliance on cloud-native network architectures and the rapid growth of over-the-top communication services have fundamentally altered how telecom services are delivered and consumed.

The department noted that 5G enables advanced capabilities such as ultra-low latency, high-speed connectivity and massive device support through technologies including network slicing, edge computing and Massive MIMO. These capabilities allow operators to create multiple virtual networks over a single physical infrastructure, each tailored for specific requirements relating to bandwidth, latency, security and reliability.

The DoT has also highlighted that global work on 6G standards is already underway, with future use cases expected to include AI-enabled networks, immersive communications, integrated sensing and direct satellite connectivity. It believes these developments raise important questions about whether the current net neutrality framework remains adequate to balance an open internet with innovation, efficient network utilisation, consumer protection and advanced digital services.

The department has suggested a periodic review of the framework to ensure India’s regulatory approach remains technologically relevant, future-ready and aligned with the rapidly evolving telecommunications ecosystem.