NEW DELHI: Network slicing, which enables telecom service providers to provide different speeds of internet to different categories of consumers, could soon become a reality in India.

Following a request from some large operators, the telecom department had asked Trai to examine this, and on Wednesday, the regulator issued a draft quality of service norms that factor in this controversial technology that some fear may affect net neutrality.

The draft amendments to the Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wireline and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024, say: “...service

provider must ensure that sufficient capacity is available in the network and shall submit the details, as per the format and manner prescribed by the authority, before launch of such network slicing.”The draft proposes to change the “typical download and upload speed offered to the subscribers” sentence in the existing rule with “technology-wise typical download and upload speed offered to subscribers for each tariff offering.” If cleared, telecom operators will be able to charge differently for different services like 4G and 5G, unlike now when both services have the same charge.