Brazil's telephone operators are considering ending data plans that offer the called Zero Rating and allow the unlimited use of specific applications without deducting from the data.
These plans often offer free on popular services like Whatsapp, Twitter, YouTube and Waze. Executives from the main operators in the country revealed that this format has caused problems for companies in the sector.
see more
Alert: THIS poisonous plant landed a young man in the hospital
Google develops AI tool to help journalists in…
Why Operators May End Zero Rating?
Net neutrality, provided for in the Marco Civil da Internet, has been widely debated in relation to Zero Rating, because, by privileging certain applications, operators would be violating this principle and favoring companies that provide these services to the detriment of others.
Furthermore, this trend is expected to grow with the popularization of 5G and streaming services. An additional aspect of the discussion is the regulation of networks, which has been the subject of debate in recent months in Brazil.
This includes the possibility of large technology companies paying for the use of networks provided by operators, which can increase the difficulty of maintaining applications with unlimited use.
What each operator has to say
A Alive, for example, has unlimited WhatsApp in its plans prepaid and postpaid. In addition, it also includes the Waze and Moovit apps in the Vivo Selfie Travel plan, without discounting the deductible.
However, company executives indicated that Zero Rating is not the brand's standard, and offering applications with unlimited use has declined in recent years due to the need to remunerate investments in the infrastructure of network.
A TIM offers options with unlimited WhatsApp and Messenger. However, in the more advanced TIM Controle plans, the offer is extended to Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
The company feels the need to diversify its sources of income, especially due to the growth of its networks, driven by 5G technology, according to Fábio Avellar, revenue director from TIM.
A Clear it also provides several applications without discounting data, especially in its more expensive Claro Post plans. Apps like TikTok, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Waze and more are covered, plus an exclusive 200GB deal for streaming services like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus and Star Plus.
The company's president, José Felix, recently stated that the Zero Rating "is a mistake", implying that the brand is interested in discontinuing this format.
