On Over-the-top (OTT) communication apps, sources mentioned, the main target is on person safety associated regulation, not licencing. The Division of Telecommunications (DOT), by way of the provisions of the draft invoice, will come down closely on spammers and people indulging in cyber frauds, sources mentioned.
Amid experiences of TRAI’s opposition to sure clauses of the draft telecom invoice, that have been seen diluting its powers, sources mentioned, discussions have taken place between the 2 sides. All of the excellent points have been resolved, they mentioned. There are not any variations between Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the telecom division on this subject, sources mentioned.
The pondering in telecom division now’s that particular provisions associated to strengthening of TRAI, on the strains of US’ Federal Communications Fee or UK’s communications regulator Ofcom, will be taken up after a time frame, say 3-4 years, by way of a separate train. For now, the contentious amendments could also be faraway from the draft telecom invoice, presently within the works.
The federal government, within the draft telecom invoice — circulated for stakeholder feedback final month — has proposed a provision to waive charges and penalty of telecom and web service suppliers. The telecom division has additionally mooted a provision for the refund of charges in case a telecom or web supplier surrenders his licence.
In the meantime, telecom service suppliers are pushing for OTT apps to be introduced beneath regulation. They argue that apps providing companies much like them — say Whatsapp, Sign and different comparable apps used for calling and messaging — must be topic to the identical licence situations as telcos, thus making certain a level-playing-field for all applied sciences.
