Bharti Airtel stock tanked today as Flipkart decided to pull out of its Airtel Zero platform after Net neutrality campaigners carried on a sustained campaign against the company's policy.
Airtel was down 13.65 percent at 11.30 am today on the benchmark Bombay Stock Exchange.
Investors dumped Airtel shares after Flipkart's change in stance. Flipkart, India's largest e-commerce portal, had earlier tied up with the 'Zero' platform that allows Airtel subscribers to use certain apps — with which the operator has a tie-up — for free, i.e., without any data charges. SaveTheInternet campaigners say it is against net neutrality, and will hit smaller companies who might not be able to pay Airtel for this service.
After facing backlash from online campaigners and users on social media, Flipkart decided to call off plans to join 'Zero'. SaveTheInternet's campaign resulted in over 300,000 emails sent to India's telecom regulator in just three days, after it had released a consultation paper on net neutrality with 20 questions up for discussion. Such questions include whether users on chat services like WhatsApp, WeChat and Viber should be charged over and above data charges paid by them.
The backlash from online users also prompted the government to act — it is now reviewing whether the Zero plan violates principles of net neutrality.
However, not everyone thought this campaign was against net neutrality. "As long as you are not throttling anyone else's speed, there is no threat to net neutrality there. Airtel Zero is perhaps the same as offering a discount coupon to your users," said Suchi Mukherjee, founder and CEO of online fashion retailer LimeRoad.
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Airtel was down 13.65 percent at 11.30 am today on the benchmark Bombay Stock Exchange.
Investors dumped Airtel shares after Flipkart's change in stance. Flipkart, India's largest e-commerce portal, had earlier tied up with the 'Zero' platform that allows Airtel subscribers to use certain apps — with which the operator has a tie-up — for free, i.e., without any data charges. SaveTheInternet campaigners say it is against net neutrality, and will hit smaller companies who might not be able to pay Airtel for this service.
After facing backlash from online campaigners and users on social media, Flipkart decided to call off plans to join 'Zero'. SaveTheInternet's campaign resulted in over 300,000 emails sent to India's telecom regulator in just three days, after it had released a consultation paper on net neutrality with 20 questions up for discussion. Such questions include whether users on chat services like WhatsApp, WeChat and Viber should be charged over and above data charges paid by them.
The backlash from online users also prompted the government to act — it is now reviewing whether the Zero plan violates principles of net neutrality.
However, not everyone thought this campaign was against net neutrality. "As long as you are not throttling anyone else's speed, there is no threat to net neutrality there. Airtel Zero is perhaps the same as offering a discount coupon to your users," said Suchi Mukherjee, founder and CEO of online fashion retailer LimeRoad.
Read:
- DoT Forms Committee To Look Into Net Neutrality Issue
- Flipkart CEO Compares Net Neutrality Backlash To Apartheid
Net Neutrality Campaign Goes Viral As Netizens Answer Clarion Call To Save The Internet
All India Bakchod Weighs In On The Net Neutrality Debate
- 8 Indian Tech Startups Speak On Airtel Zero And Net Neutrality
Blow To Net Neutrality As Airtel Launches Marketing Platform
Act Now: India's Telecos And Regulators Are Trying To Kill Open Internet
Indian Regulator Invites Consultation To Regulate WhatsApp, Viber, Other OTT Services
Blog: Mandating US-Style Network Neutrality Makes Little Sense For India
Blog: Is Net Neutrality More Important Than Internet Access? Why Babajob Is On Internet.org
Odisha MP Tathagata Satpathy Writes Letter To TRAI Chairman Supporting Net Neutrality
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