Nikhil Pahwa, founder and editor of MediaNama, addressed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) during its Open House Discussion on Quality of Services, emphasizing that network slicing should be regulated under net neutrality rules. Pahwa highlighted concerns about Reliance Jio’s comments on allowing service-specific network slices, arguing this issue requires a broader net neutrality consultation rather than being confined to quality-of-service regulations, according to medianama.com.
During his remarks, Pahwa recalled his leadership in the SaveTheInternet.in campaign in 2015-2016, which contributed to India establishing strong net neutrality protections. He noted that TRAI’s earlier work under R.S. Sharma received praise for upholding these principles. Pahwa warned that neutrality must apply not only across the entire network but also within and between network slices, cautioning against indirect violations similar to past zero-rating practices by telecom operators like Airtel, as reported by medianama.com.
The discussion around network slicing comes amid evolving telecom technologies that allow operators to create multiple virtual networks on a single physical infrastructure. Pahwa’s intervention underscores the need to prevent telecom providers from prioritizing or discriminating against specific services via these slices, a concern that echoes earlier net neutrality debates in India. Ensuring neutrality in network slicing could influence how operators manage traffic and maintain fair access, aligning with India’s historically strong stance on net neutrality, according to medianama.com.
TRAI’s ongoing consultation on quality of service and network slicing will consider inputs like Pahwa’s as it shapes regulations. The regulator’s final recommendations are expected to clarify how network slicing fits within India’s net neutrality framework, potentially impacting telecom operators’ service management practices. The Open House Discussion where Pahwa spoke took place in late September 2026, marking a key moment in the policy dialogue on this issue, per medianama.com.