How the mission for Inteet equality is playing out around the world - CNET

That struggle is different in every country, and is often defined by how much access its citizens get. In the US, the Net neutrality debate has focused on very specific issues such as whether to prioritize traffic from video services like Netflix. The complex issue sometimes boils down whether the company can pay for a fast lane to ensure that "House of Cards" doesn't freeze up on your TV.

But it's India's recent push that has complicated the global debate about online equality. It's not just a question of equality for Netflix traffic versus Instagram traffic, but rather how far to push the potential to fundamentally transform societies and reconcile the haves and have-nots of the world.

India's telecom regulator earlier this month rejected Facebook's plan to bring poorer Indians online through a program called Free Basics, which would deliver free access to specific Inteet services controlled by the world's largest social network. Facebook argued that the program would bring people online who otherwise would have no access to the Inteet. Critics countered that it would create a two-tier Inteet that reinforces existing inequalities in society and makes users entirely reliant on Facebook for Inteet access.

During a keynote speech at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, Facebook CEO Zuckerberg described India's decision as a "disappointment for this mission and of what we're trying to do."

With the Inteet's ability to power an economy, many emerging nations like India are working on building out their online access, preferring to do it with home-grown services rather than rely on support from global superpowers.

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That's how Free Basics fell into the sights of regulators. India's decision will have a "seismic impact," Levy predicts, on the rest of South Asia and on Africa, where nations are establishing their own Inteet economies and eventually will have to deal with Net neutrality.

A 'mainstream' conversation

The global debate is gathering momentum. Between 2010 and 2014 only three countries -- Chile, Israel and the Netherlands -- put laws in place to protect Net neutrality, according to the World Wide Web Foundation's Web Index report. Over the last year alone, we've seen the EU, the US and India join the club.

In sub-Saharan Africa, regulators and the tech industry have been closely following the proceedings, said Nanjira Sambuli, research manager at iHub in Nairobi, Kenya. "I think it's just about to become a more 'mainstream' conversation."

The US and much of Europe came online as the Web giants of the world were still evolving and could therefore afford to take their time in pondering Net neutrality issues. But with global tech companies poised to implement their own plans for the Inteet in countries coming online, those nations don't have the same luxury of waiting until broadband is established to make key decisions.

"The Indian decision makes it clear that broadband buildout and open Inteet policy are closely related," said Levy. "So populous countries like Indonesia, South Africa, Nigeria, Philippines, and others are no doubt taking a close look at Free Basics and the need to maintain strong Net neutrality protections."

A different view

Not everyone views Net neutrality as the catalyst for online equality. Opponents believe it'll actually have the opposite effect.

Josh Steimle, author and founder of marketing agency MWI, is conceed that Net neutrality legislation will lead to the "politicization of the Inteet, the selective enforcement, the lawsuits, and the uncertainty." Large companies are well placed to deal with the rules, meaning small companies "automatically lose."