Telecom giant Bharti Airtel has strongly defended its newly launched “Priority Postpaid” service, telling a Department of Telecommunications (DoT) panel that the offering does not violate India’s net neutrality norms. The service, which rolled out on May 19, promises consistent, high-speed connectivity for premium postpaid users, even in heavily crowded market areas.
Responding to clarifications sought by the Committee on Communications and Information Technology, Airtel emphasized that the service is powered by 5G network slicing. The company explicitly stated that the feature operates in a “content-neutral” manner. According to Airtel, the architecture involves absolutely no blocking, throttling, or preferential treatment of any specific application, aligning perfectly with existing TRAI and DoT frameworks.
Addressing concerns regarding fair access, Airtel reassured regulators that the quality of service for prepaid and non-priority users will not degrade. The company revealed that overall 5G network utilization currently stands at just 38% during peak hours. Postpaid traffic occupies a mere 4% of this capacity, which is projected to rise to just 6% through the virtual “tunnel” created for the Priority service. This leaves a massive 60% headroom for prepaid and other data traffic.
Airtel concluded its submission with a warning to regulators, stating that blocking mainstream 5G capabilities like network slicing could severely jeopardize the development and future potential of 6G technology within the country.