India blocks Facebook Free Basics internet scheme

India's telecoms regulator has blocked Facebook's Free Basics internet service as part of a ruling in favour of network neutrality.

"No service provider shall offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content," ruled the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The body had been investigating whether any online content should be prioritised over others, or offered for free while others were not.

Vikas Pandey, digital producer for the BBC in India, said there had been an intense publicity campaign on both sides of the debate, with Facebook taking out front page advertising in national newspapers to defend the scheme. "The people who live in cities and are aggressive users of the Internet said: 'You can't dictate the terms, give free internet to villagers and then tell them how to use it'," he said.