[governance] Net neutrality on mobiles

Sun Aug 8 16:03:03 EDT 2010

Hi all, 
I would also like to share my comments on the subject discussion:

We are also witness that Facebook Mobile application shortcut is forcefully sent to our Blackberry from mobile phone network operator on Pakistan, (using Global IT Policy and Service Book for remote configuration). 

Similarly, Blackberry Marketing staff (of Mobile phone network operator) called each Blackberry user groups and asked to convey this message to users of your group to visit Mobitrack website, and just on browsing the site, icon/shortcut was created in the Blackberry. 

Even we tried to delete the icon/application shortcut from Blackberry, it was re appeared.

However, there was no compulsion on us to use this application but I believe that such applications are also used to probe the client machines as they demand maximum open security access. For example, Google Maps has nothing with your PIMs data (contacts or email) or key logging but this application will not work unless you grant open access to the application through Security Options. 

Regarding free Internet access (option by AirTel or any other network operator) for the compulsion of browsing the predefined contents such as Youtube or Facebook may be a sponsored scheme of compatible Mobile phones but after all the contents of such portals are already free on cost as a free services for all users.

Here, it is necessary and important question that is there any "Net Neutrality" related IT policy is implemented (by the Civil Society, Internet Society or Communication Controlling Authority, Ministry of IT or in Law of Courts) in that country or Not? 
MAG/GAC are responsible to arrange to implement Internet policies in their Countries. May I ask that are they not answerable to reply IGF, if there is a violation of proposed NN policies are being exercised in their countries (openly) which support discrimination on the Internet Access vs Internet Contents. 

If no one owns the responsibility, discrimination will continue to be as long as net neutrality rules are not enforced in the Country. By they way, as I know, Chile is the first country who implemented NN policy.

Regards

Imran Ahmed Shah
-----------------------------
Urdu Internet Society
Urdu Internet Council

On Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:08 PKT Sivasubramanian M wrote:

>Dear Ginger
>
>Airtel, as the mobile Internet Operator, and a Nationwide 'ISP' for all
>mobile phones on airtel network is supposed to be neutral to facebook, Ning,
>LinkedIn or Orkut.
>
>When Airtel says, free download for facebook subscribers, it is promoting
>facebook traffic over Ning or Orkut traffic. It is an indirect way of
>freelaning traffic, if not fastlaning.
>
>That is not NetNeutral. I don't understand why it is difficult to see this
>as a NN isue.
>
>
>Sivasubramanian M
>
>
>
>
>On Sun, Aug 8, 2010 at 6:07 PM, Ginger Paque <gpaque at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Ian and Parminder,
>>
>> This is an interesting point for me, but I wonder where the line is between
>> advertising and other issues, like 'free benefits' which David mentions. For
>> instance, when text messaging was first available in Venezuela, it was free.
>> It was free for long enough to get everyone hooked on it. Then they started
>> charging for it.
>>
>> It is difficult for me to see this as a NN issue since it sounds more like
>> a 'free trial', or a 'package deal' that attracts customers. My serious
>> issues with NN are lack of transparency, not marketing.
>>
>> Where do you see this 'line'?
>>
>> I think this is a good time to discuss NN so that we can be more productive
>> in Vilnius.
>>
>> Best, Ginger
>>
>>
>> On 8/7/2010 11:23 PM, Ian Peter wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Parminder,
>>>
>>> Unfortunately Australia has already jumped ship on this too. It is common
>>> practice for ISPs here (who have volume charging regimes) to create free
>>> zones of their partner sites which do not attract volume charges and/or
>>> traffic shaping when people exceed download limits. Nobody here seems to
>>> want to pick this up as an issue. To me, this is a distortion of a free
>>> market and an open Internet at the same time and should be attracting a
>>> lot
>>> more attention.
>>>
>>> The mobile world, as you mention, brings with it other distortions and
>>> potential distortions (eg built in apps and interfaces)
>>>
>>>
>>> I agree - we should discuss.
>>>
>>>
>>> Ian Peter
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> From: parminder<parminder at itforchange.net>
>>>> Reply-To:<governance at lists.cpsr.org>, parminder<
>>>> parminder at itforchange.net>
>>>> Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2010 08:51:02 +0530
>>>> To:<governance at lists.cpsr.org>,<ciresearchers at vancouvercommunity.net>
>>>> Subject: [governance] Net neutrality on mobiles
>>>>
>>>> Hi All
>>>>
>>>> The biggest mobile operator in India, Airtel, is providing Facebook free
>>>> of data download charges in India (apparently, only for 2 months). I
>>>> understand this is happening in other countries too; i read about
>>>> something similar in Russia.
>>>>
>>>> I consider this as an outright violation of net neutrality (NN).
>>>>
>>>> Since there are existing codes of conduct on NN in some countries like
>>>> Norway and Brazil, I will like to know from those who know and
>>>> understand these country specific arrangements well if such a thing as
>>>> above will be considered a NN violation under these codes.
>>>>
>>>> If indeed developing countries are to have any chance of being a part of
>>>> shaping and governing the future of the Internet, we should start
>>>> testing such cases as above with the telecom regulatory  authourities,
>>>> and if needed with courts and anti-trust bodies.
>>>>
>>>> Parminder
>>>>
>>>> PS: See latest developments on NN debate in the US at
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/08/google-verizon-close-to-their-
>>>> own-net-neutrality-deal.ars
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> It appears that there is some move to treat wireless or mobile based
>>>> Internet on a different level vis a vis NN than wired Internet.
>>>>
>>>> As the largest market players - here, Verizon and Google - seek to
>>>> arrive at a mutually convenient  arrangement, and the only other party
>>>> to it is the US gov, itself representing very partisan, and largely
>>>> dominant, interests, as far as the global public Internet is concerned,
>>>> the real shape of global IG is quite evident. Where does the IGF, and
>>>> indeed the IGC come into this may be a question that we need to ponder
>>>> upon.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
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