[vishnuharidas]

There are two points here.

1. Zero rating is good for customers. If Flipkart offers zero rating app, then other competitors like Amazon, Ebay, Snapdeal etc. too are forced to improve their service over Flipkart, or provide Zero Rating for them also. (But from a Business perspective, this can be bad).

2. Net Neutrality is a different thing. But here the telecom operators are confusing people with NN and ZR, tricking the users to believe that they are going to get internet for free once ZR is active. No, it's not like that. They are different things.

I believe that ZR for basic communication apps (like WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, Skype etc.) is an essential thing to do.

But still maintaining Net Neutrality is very very important.

[ge0rg]

1. Zero rating is good for customers.

This is probably more complicated. While large companies will have to follow suit and probably buy-in into the ZR deal of large telcos, startups and small buisnesess will essentially be cut off from (potential) customers.

For a small company, it will become a huge challenge to enter such markets - both logistically and financially, so in the end there will be no more Internet for the customers but only FacebookGoogleEbayNet...

[vishnuharidas]

@ge0rg You said it right. In this blossom of startups, the ZR will be too heavy for startups to handle. Example is, if Uber has a ZR on Vodafone worldwide, then no other cabs startups are going to raise. ZR is a sure death-shot for startups and SMEs.