TRAI extends deadline for its differential pricing paper to January 7

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has extended the last date of receipt of written comments on its differential pricing for data services by a week, the regulator said in a statement.

"On request of the stakeholders, the last date for receipt of written comments/views has been extended up to 07.01.2016 and counter comments, if any, upto 14.01.2016," TRAI said.

The earlier deadline was December 30.

The TRAI had come out with the paper on December 9, and asked various stakeholders for suggestions on differential pricing of data services.

The paper has kicked up a fresh round of debate on net neutrality, primarily focused around Facebook's zero-rated service called Free Basics, which seeks to provide preferential access to the world’s largest social network by striking a partnership with a telecom operator.

Several stakeholders, including startups, activists and academics have come out in support of net neutrality and against differential pricing of data services in the last few days.