New Delhi & Kolkata: Analysts are divided over whether pre-loaded Reliance Jio and other apps on the JioPhone flout rules on non-discriminatory internet access, known as net neutrality.

"Jio's pre-installed apps on JioPhone can be seen as a violation of net neutrality principles, and we believe this aspect would be highlighted by competitors to the regulator," brokerage Kotak Institutional Equities said in a note to clients, a copy of which was seen by ET.

According to Kotak, any set of pre-installed apps on a device - whether they are Jio's or not - that prevents consumers from installing competing apps "flirts with the boundaries of net neutrality."

Deutsche Bank raised similar concerns on the grounds that apps on JioPhone are from its own store, which has apps spanning social, content and payments verticals.

Reliance Jio Infocomm declined to comment on the issue, although a person close to the company said JioPhone will support both Jio and non-Jio apps.

"There is absolutely no question of the JioPhone violating net neutrality principles as users of the device will enjoy unrestricted access to the internet," the person said.

Net neutrality backers said although on first look the model did not appear to be violating internet access rules, there wasn't enough immediate clarity on whether the just-announced device will limit usage to select apps chosen by Jio.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has backed net neutrality and banned discriminatory pricing of data services.

"The Trai ruling says no service provider shall offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content, which is clearly not happening in this case because this tariff is for the device (JioPhone) and not the content," said Nikhil Pahwa, cofounder of the net neutrality campaign in India.

Prasanth Sugathan, counsel at Software Freedom Law Centre, said the JioPhone doesn't violate net neutrality principles prima facie because it doesn't prevent users from accessing the open internet.

"Many phones come with bundled apps and access to internet - this is similar to that. If it was access only to Jio apps, websites and nothing else, then it could have been a violation," said Sugathan.

However, he said that if data used while accessing Jio apps do not count towards the data plan, then it would be a violation.

"If Jio were to lock the SIM to a particular device, which were to limit users to a specific set of services determined by the company, then this would end up having the same effect as discriminatory tariffs for data services and be in violation of the Trai order (on differential pricing of services)," said Pahwa.

Trai has said the only exception to non-discriminatory data tariffs is for closed electronic communications networks.