Smartphone users in Bangladesh will no longer have access to free social media if the country’s telecoms regulator has its way. The fight against zero-rating is thought to curb the alleged misuse of social media by the public.
Official reason
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission says free access to social media is giving users the license to commit crime. This means that Facebook’s Free Basics plan with companies like Grameenphone and Robi Axiata could end immediately.
What is zero-rating?
Zero-rating is when telecoms operators provide limited access to selected websites and apps at zero cost. This is normally done in collaboration with the app publisher or other service provider who take up the cost of access. For example, Facebook has several zero-rating deals with telecom operators in developing countries called Free Basics. These deals allow users limited access to Facebook products without any extra costs.
Net Neutrality
Net neutrality suggests that each website should have equal access to internet resources when visited by a user. It means that regardless of which site is being loaded, the network service provider should not limit speed or make it difficult to access said website. Critics say zero-rating violate net neutrality because it charges discriminatory tariffs on the basis of content. As such, the networks are making it easier to access some websites while charging higher tariffs for others.
What Now?
Bangladesh is one of the largest internet markets in the world. With a market size of more 100 million people, the country has attracted a lot of internet giants over the past few years. With low incomes, however, service providers and social media companies have used zero-rating to reach a larger audience. Access to such services help these companies grow while providing a valuable service to the public. With Bangladesh banning zero-rating deals, it is not clear what would become of the millions of users who rely on such platforms to connect with and sell their products. Do you think zero-rating deals are inimical to net neutrality?
