Tracking net neutrality debate in India, says Facebook's Chris Daniels

Tech News - The platform, unveiled on Monday, will be open to all developers who meet certain guidelines, including content being built for browsing on both feature and smartphones and in limited bandwidth scenarios, the company said in a statement.
             
The move comes amid growing debate in India, home to the world's third-largest population of Internet users, over free access and net neutrality in the country.
             
"We've heard the debate about net neutrality in India and have been tracking it," Chris Daniels, vice president of product for Internet.org, said.
             
"The principles of neutrality must co-exist with programs that also encourage bringing people online," Daniels said, highlighting that Internet.org was open to mobile operators and involved no payments, either to or from the developers.

Facebook partnered with Reliance Communications to launch Internet.org in India in February. But a number of e-commerce firms and content developers pulled out of the service subsequently as activists claimed it violated principles of net neutrality - the concept that all websites on the internet are treated equally.
             
Facebook has launched the service in nine countries, including in India, bringing over 8 million people online, said Daniels, who was in India to speak with partners and operators.

Source:  Gadgets Reviews India and Auto News  

 

View here : Daily and Weekly Horoscope

 

View here: Fun Facts

Unsustainable to offer whole Internet for free, says Facebook's Zuckerberg

Tech News - Facebook also said that internet.org is open to all content and application developers who meet "certain guidelines". This follows criticism from free internet advocates that the social networking site was "hand-picking services" violating principles of net neutrality.

Zuckerberg, who in the past had defended internet.org, said in his video blog posted today, that the programme supports itself.
  
"When people use free basic services, more of them then decide to pay to access the broader Internet and this enables operators to keep offering these basic services for free. It is not sustainable to offer the whole Internet for free," he said.
  
But, it is sustainable to offer free basic services that are simpler, use less data and work on all low-end phones, he added.
  
The net neutrality debate in India was triggered after Airtel introduced an open marketing platform 'Airtel Zero' where the data charges were being borne by application developers. Facebook, which has tied up with Reliance Communications for internet.org initiative in India, too offer access 33 websites for free.
  
Free Internet advocates had raised objections to these platforms, saying there were in violation of net neutrality, which stands for equal treatment for all Internet traffic and any priority based on payment to service providers like telecom companies is seen as discriminatory.

Source:  Gadgets Reviews India and Auto News  

 

View here : Daily and Weekly Horoscope

 

View here: Fun Facts

Facebook launches open Internet.org platform amid net neutrality debate in India

Tech News -  However, Reliance Communications remains the only Indian telecom partner as of now on this platform, which has seen entities like Cleartrip and NDTV walking out.
  
"The platform will be open to all developers who meet certain guidelines, including content that can be browsed on both feature and smartphones and on limited bandwidth," Internet.org Vice President Product Chris Daniels said.
  
The move comes amid raging debate in the country on Net Neutrality, which stands for equal treatment to be accorded to all Internet traffic.

  
The principle states that no priority would be given to an entity or company based on payment to service providers like telecom companies, which is seen as discriminatory.
  
The debate in India has also been triggered by mobile operator Airtel introducing an open marketing platform 'Airtel 0Zero', and TRAI's consultation paper on whether telecom firms can be allowed to charge different rates for different uses of Internet data like email, Internet browsing and use of apps like Whatsapp, Viber and Sky.
  
In India, Internet.org had partnered with Reliance Communications in February this year to provide free Internet access to 33 websites as part of its Internet.org initiative raised eyebrows, with free Internet supporters saying that it violates the idea of Net Neutrality.
   

Source:  Gadgets Reviews India and Auto News  

 

View here : Daily and Weekly Horoscope

 

View here: Fun Facts

Solar-powered drone to provide wireless internet completes test flight: Report

Tech News - The company Quarkson plans to use the SkyOrbiter drones that will stay airborne for weeks, months or even years at a time and will fly at altitudes of up to 22,000 metres.
  
The test flight took place on April 2 at an undisclosed location, 'Gizmag' reported.
  
The drone was equipped with Wi-Fi-transmitting equipment that can provide internet access to local users on the ground via a patch antenna that receives the signal.
  
The drone tested was a small version of those planned for eventual use with a wingspan of 5 metres.
  
It was flown within line of sight up to an altitude of 100 metres and successfully relayed a Wi-Fi signal to the ground.
  
One of Quarkson's larger SkyOrbiter LA25 drones with a wingspan of 22 metres has reportedly already been built but could not be tested yet.

Source:  Auto News  and Gadgets Reviews India

 

View here : Daily and Weekly Horoscope

 

View here: Fun Facts