Airtel tells DoT its 5G Priority Postpaid service follows net neutrality norms
Bharti Airtel defended its 5G Priority Postpaid service before India’s Department of Telecommunications, claiming it complies with net neutrality norms and does not degrade service for prepaid users. The company argued that blocking 5G features could hinder future 6G development and stated postpaid traffic remains under 6% of total capacity, leaving 60% headroom for non-priority users.
Bharti Airtel has submitted a response to India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) panel, asserting its 5G Priority Postpaid service adheres to net neutrality principles. The company stated the service, launched on May 19, uses 5G network slicing to provide consistent speeds for postpaid users in crowded areas without affecting prepaid customers. Airtel claimed current 5G capacity utilization stands at 38% during peak hours, with postpaid traffic accounting for just 4%, rising to 6% with the new service. Prepaid and non-priority traffic retains 60% capacity headroom, ensuring no degradation. The company argued that restricting 5G features could jeopardize India’s 6G potential. Airtel emphasized the Priority Postpaid service operates content-neutrally, without blocking, throttling, or preferential treatment of any application. It claimed compliance with existing TRAI and DoT frameworks, stating no violation of net neutrality norms occurs. A query sent to Airtel for comment went unanswered. Network slicing creates a virtual ‘tunnel’ for priority traffic, isolating it from general data flow. Airtel highlighted that even with the new service, prepaid users experience no slowdowns, as overall capacity remains underutilized. The submission aimed to address concerns raised by the Committee on Communications and Information Technology regarding potential service degradation. The company reiterated that its approach aligns with global 5G best practices while safeguarding future technological advancements.
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