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After Free Basics, Facebook tests 'Express Wi-Fi' in India

[email protected] (Agencies)
November 27, 2016

Nov 27: The social media giant says it is trying to provide an affordable internet service in the rural parts of the country.

FacebookFacebook is now testing a new way of offering public Wi-Fi access in rural parts of the country, PTI reported on Sunday. This comes months after the social media giant received flak for allegedly violating net neutrality with its Free Basics scheme in India.

On Facebook"s Internet.org page, it says “With Express Wifi, we"re working with carriers, internet service providers, and local entrepreneurs to help expand connectivity to underserved locations around the world. We"re currently live in India, and are expanding to other regions soon.” Express Wi-Fi will empower local entrepreneurs to help provide quality internet access, it further said.

“When people are able to purchase fast, affordable and reliable internet, they"re able to explore the range of information it has to offer including news, education, health, job postings, entertainment, and communication tools like Facebook,” it added.

A Facebook spokesperson confirmed with PTI that the company is currently working with internet service providers to test Express Wi-Fi with deployments in multiple pilot sites. On Express Wi-Fi network, users can purchase fast, reliable and affordable data packs via digital vouchers to access the Internet, the spokesperson added.

While Free Basics, initially called Internet.org, had claimed it was allowing the free access to the Internet for the poor in India, it was limited to a few Internet services, which included Facebook. In February this year, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had said service providers cannot enter into any arrangement, agreement or contract that promotes discriminatory pricing of data services, adding that any telecom company found flouting the rule will be fined Rs 50,000 a day. Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg had expressed his disappointment with the regulation.

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Agencies
July 3,2020

Mumbai, Jul 3: In yet another move to keep Chinese technologies companies at bay, the Centre has cancelled the 4G upgradation tender for BSNL as it has decided to come up with fresh specifications for the upgrade process, sources said.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is likely to issue a fresh tender in the next two weeks.

People in the know said that the fresh tender may not allow Chinese companies to participate and that the new tenders that will be floated in the next two weeks will emphasise on Make in India.

As the border tussle with China escalated last month and around 20 soldiers lost their lives, the government had last month asked both BSNL and MTNL not to use equipment of Chinese makers in their upgrading process to 4G facilities.

Huawei and ZTE are the major Chinese telecom equipment makers working with Indian telecom companies and they would be the hardest hit by the decision.

The impact may be felt in terms of the much-awaited 5G trials in the country. After much deliberation, the Centre last December decided to allow Huawei to take part in the 5G trials.

The cancellation of tender for BSNL's 4G upgradation comes after the Centre on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat and UC Browser.

A statement by the Ministry of Electronics and IT said that the decision was taken since "there is credible information that these apps are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order".

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News Network
July 28,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 28: Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Monday alleged that BJP is trying to destabilise the Congress government in Rajasthan.

"It is the duty of the Governor to act according to the decision of the state cabinet. But he is acting like a central government puppet," he said at a protest organised here by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

He said the Congress is protesting across the country to save democracy and save the constitution.

"We are not fighting through violence. We are protesting peacefully. The Constitution has given the right to protest in a democratic system," he said.

He accused the BJP of "being disrespectful" to the Constitution.

"Governments must walk within the framework of the Constitution. The Constitution gives everyone rights and duties. BJP destabilises elected governments and buys our legislators by horse-trading by spending crores of money. The same thing happened in Karnataka as well," he alleged.

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Agencies
July 13,2020

New Delhi, Jul 13: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has blocked Bharti Airtel's Platinum and Vodafone Idea's RedX premium plans that offer faster data speeds and priority services to customers as both the plans were violating net neutrality norms.

The telecom watchdog has asked Bharti Airtel to explain within seven days how such a similar plan being launched does not violate the rules of net neutrality.

Vodafone Idea's RedX plan has been in the market since November 2019. They made some modifications in May 2020 and the Bharti Airtel was soon going to launch a similar plan.

According to TRAI, the higher speed for premium customers discriminate against others and violates net neutrality.

Responding to TRAI's move, Airtel spokesperson said: "We are passionate about delivering the best network and service experience to all our customers. This is why we have a relentless obsession to eliminate faults and have been consistently recognised by international agencies as the best network in terms of speed, latency and video experience."

"At the same time, we want to keep raising the bar for our post-paid customers in terms of service and responsiveness. This is an ongoing effort at our end," the spokesperson said.

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