Indian Awaaz / Web Desk /New Delhi
Telecom Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday issued the much-awaited consultation paper to debate whether the over-the-top (OTT) players such as Whatsapp, Facebook, Viber and Skype, and others, should be brought under the regulatory regime.
The telecom regulator said that the paper titled as ‘Regulatory Framework for Over The Top Communications Services’ aims to discuss and analyse changes that could be required in the current regulatory framework to govern these companies, along with the manner “in which such changes should be affected”.
Full text of the consultation paper click here full Consultation Paper
Earlier, the Authority issued a consultation paper on Regulatory Framework for Over-the-top (OTT) services on the 27th of March, 2015, which also included questions on the principles of net neutrality, reasonableness of traffic management practices, non-price based discrimination of services and transparency requirements. Due to the large number of issues and their complexity, it became difficult to deliberate upon and conclude all of them together. Therefore, Authority decided to deal with related issues in separate parts, keeping focus on a core set of issues each time. Accordingly, the following actions have been taken:
a. The Authority issued regulations on Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016.
b. Recommendations on provisioning of free data given to Government on 19th December 2016,
c. Recommendations on Net Neutrality to Government on Nov 28, 2017.
d. Recommendations on privacy, security and data ownership issues in the telecom sector submitted to Government on July 16,2018.
-Questions relating to the potential market failures in each segment, the appropriate tools to address those failures and the costs and benefits of any possible regula lory interventions have also been investigated.
– Keeping in View the fast evolving nature of the sector, it is also considered useful to examine 011 related aspects, after taking into account the changes that have taken place since March, 2015.
-. The objective of this Consultation Paper is to analyse and discuss the implications of the growth of 011s; the relationship between 011 players and TSPs; the similarity, if any, between services provided by the TSPs and 011 players; changes that may be required in the current regulatory framework to govern these entities; and the manner in which such changes should be effected. While preparing this consultation paper, information collected by the Authority In response to previous consultations has also been used. It may also be noted that current consultation is not intended to revisit regulations or recommendations given by the Authority earlier on 011, which had broader implications and were therefore concluded first following due consultation and diligence.
– Comments on the issues raised in the consultation paper are invited from the stakeholders by 10.12.2018 and counter comments, if any, by 24.12.2018. The comments and counter-comments may be sent, preferably in electronic format at [email protected]. For any clarifications or information, Shri Asit Kadayan, Advisor (QOS), TRAI may be contacted at Telephone Number +91-11-23230404, FAX Number +91-11-23213036.