Airtel Defends ‘Priority Postpaid’ Service Before DoT Panel, Denies Net Neutrality Violation
New Delhi: Bharti Airtel has defended its newly launched “Priority Postpaid” service before a committee of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), stating that the 5G network slicing-based feature neither violates net neutrality norms nor affects the service quality of prepaid users.
In its response to the committee on Communications and Information Technology, Airtel said that restricting the use of core 5G capabilities for advanced services could hamper India’s future prospects in 6G technology.
The company clarified that the “Priority Postpaid” service has been implemented in a completely content-neutral manner and is fully aligned with the existing framework of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the DoT.
Airtel stated that the service does not involve blocking applications, throttling speeds, prioritising content based on applications, zero-rating, or offering preferential treatment to any specific platform or service.
The telecom operator launched its “Priority Postpaid” plans on May 19, claiming that the feature would ensure consistent and stable internet speeds for postpaid customers even in congested areas.
The company further asserted that the Priority feature does not impact the quality of service for any customer, whether prepaid or postpaid.
According to Airtel, the current peak-hour utilisation of its total 5G network capacity stands at around 38 percent. Of this, postpaid traffic accounts for nearly 4 percent, which could rise to approximately 6 percent after the implementation of the virtual slice for Priority Postpaid users.
Airtel also informed the panel that nearly 60 percent of the total network capacity would still remain available for prepaid and other non-priority users, indicating that the new service would neither affect nor degrade the experience of prepaid subscribers.
