Airtel Zero has been widely touted as an anti net neutrality ideology. But in fact we were
misinformed and misguided my the social media or a group of people using the social media. Airtel zero was nothing against net neutrality. It was a mere promotional package which favored both the public as well as the firms taking part in the scheme along with a win win tactics for Airtel. Stuff has been arm twisted and you need to understand the facts.

First read what the Airtel CEO explains about their Airtel Zero platform:

"Over the last few days you may have seen a lot of conversation on Airtel Zero. It has been painted as a move that violates net neutrality and we have been very concerned at the incorrect information that has been carried by some quarters in the media as well as in social media, I wanted to take this opportunity to clear the air and reiterate that we are completely committed to net neutrality, The platform is open to all app developers, content providers and internet sites on an equal basis and same rate card is offered to all. There is no difference between this and toll free voice such as 1-800, As a company we do not ever block or provide any differential speeds to any website. We have never done it and will never do it. We believe customers are the reason we are in business"The head of country's largest telecom operator said there has been a deliberate effort by some quarters to confuse people that it will offer differential speeds or differential access for different sites.

"This is untrue. After all we earn revenue from data. If there are more customers who are on the internet the better it is for our business. Our revenues are not dependent on which sites they visit because we charge on the basis of consumption of mega bytes not which site they visited," he added.

Now let me explain the stuff. Airtel zero is similar to a toll free number. For me it is simple. If I purchase a data package I will be allowed to use my data on any site without any restrictions. And if I purchase a special promotion data package (eg. social media package or Airtel zero) I will be restricted to use only those sites who pays on behalf of me, Right? No rocket science. It is the same way the telephone works too. You buy credit and you get to call any number on the provided call rates. But certain calls to numbers like 1800- are toll free as the firm has paid the telecom provider already. Or if a departmental store runs a part sale, it will give discount on selected items. Eg. X brand 30% discount, Y brand 50% discount and and Z brand no discount, do we cry that they are favoring a certain brand? Definitely no. It is good for both the customers as well as the firms. Isn't all this the same thing?

Similarly nobody is forcing you to take part in the promotions. Only if we opt for a promotional package, we will have to abide by their terms and conditions. If simply using a promotional package is against net neutrality according to your views, just forget the promotional benefits and carry on with your data package. Just leave the fuzz.

Definitely this was something that would have made browsing free or cheaper for at least a group of us. As more and more companies pool into the 'Airtel Zero' network our chances of taking a data pack reduces. And eventually internet would be free at least for a group of us.

What is wrong in this? Nothing. A group of social media including the AIB arm twisted the facts. There is nothing like differential speeds. Nothing like inequality. Nothing like partiality. Or even nothing that is against Net neutrality. This was something that would have benefited the customers, the companies as well as the telecom provider. In fact this was a good move indeed.

It was just clicks, fame and revenue that forced a few social media goons to arm twist the facts. Beware of these social media gundas, and please use your own brain and do your own research. Dont you agree with this? If not, let us know why?