Earlier this month, Bharti Airtel launched a new ‘Priority Postpaid’ service that will offer all its postpaid customers more consistent connectivity during periods of network congestion.

This launch of this preferential service tier — using a technology called 5G “network slicing” — has triggered a fresh debate in India over net neutrality, the principle that all internet traffic should be treated equally.

The question, for rival telecom operators, policymakers and regulators, is this: Should premium mobile users (read postpaid users) be allowed preferential access to network resources?

Here’s a look at how 5G network slicing works and whether it violates the hard-won net neutrality protections in place in India.

What is 5G network slicing?

Network slicing is one of the defining features of standalone 5G networks.…