TRAI to analyze the implications of the growth of over-the-top services

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) relaunched on Monday the discussion on "regulatory issues and economic concerns" regarding OTT services such as WhatsApp and Skype, with its consultation on "Regulatory Framework for OTT Communication Services".

Consultation Paper

"This consultation paper aims to badyze and discuss the implications of the growth of OTT services … of the relationship between TSPs and OTT actors, of the need to modify the current regulatory framework and the manner in which such changes should be made, "said the regulator in its consultation document.

TRAI asked stakeholders to let them know if there was a regulatory imbalance and licenses affected investments in telecommunications networks., if there is a problem of equal opportunity between OTTs and TSPs, and any issues related to the lawful interception of bypbad communications be resolved in the interest of national security, TRAI also sought to know which OTT services could be considered s as identical or similar to the services provided by the TSPs.

"If it is suggested that by-pbad service providers be subject to regulation or a condition of license, these regulations or conditions of license should be reviewed or redefined in the context of OTT services or in this form. himself? TRAI also asked if interoperability between OTT services would be beneficial for competition as well as for users. At the present time, interoperability between OTT platforms is not regulated.

Telecommunication operators advocate placing OTT players under a licensing regime in order to create a level playing field, as they offer similar services, such as voice and messaging. A licensing system will likely require OTT players to pay royalties such as license fees, spectrum usage fees, in addition to quality of service compliance, legal interception and settlement standards. customer complaints.

TRAI had already published a consultation paper on the regulatory framework for OTT services in March 2015. This also included questions on the principles of internet neutrality and traffic management practices, among others. "Because of the large number of problems and their complexity, it has become difficult to deliberate and resolve them all together. Therefore, the Authority decided to treat the related problems in separate parts, "said TRAI.