Network slicing services are legitimate use of 5G capabilities: Jio to Parliament panel

Reliance Jio, India’s top telecom operator, has defended 5G network slicing in its submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communication and Information Technology. The company stated that network slicing is a standardised 3GPP-defined capability of 5G SA networks, allowing for diverse connectivity needs while adhering to net neutrality regulations. Jio’s May 25 response clarified that different network slices for business classes or verticals meet net neutrality requirements, provided differential charging is justified by transparent, application-agnostic traffic management needs. The submission emphasized that the existing regulatory framework, including the Unified Licence and TRAI’s net neutrality rules, permits network slicing-based services. The response comes amid scrutiny of Airtel’s recent launch of Airtel Priority Postpaid, India’s first commercially announced 5G network-slicing-based consumer offering. The Parliamentary Committee, led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, reviewed quality of service (QoS) standards and consumer protection in the telecom sector, focusing on net neutrality concerns. Jio argued that network slicing enables varied access technologies, service contracts, and QoS classes without compromising service quality for any customer. The company also suggested that government bodies may seek technical details to assess compliance with net neutrality principles. The submission underscores the debate over balancing technological innovation with regulatory oversight in India’s telecom sector.