Aware of the heightened recognition of voice/video and messaging communication by way of OTT service suppliers like WhatsApp, Telegram, Fb and Facetime in India, telecom regulator Trai has began discussions on whether or not particular apps and web sites ought to be banned within the nation underneath the provisions of Telecom Providers (Public Emergency or Public Security) Guidelines, 2017 or another legislation throughout emergency conditions.
Trai, which has come out with a Session Paper on Regulatory Mechanism for OTT Communication Providers, is searching for solutions to what might be the technical challenges in selective banning of particular providers and web sites in particular areas of the nation for a selected interval.
Trai can also be discovering out whether or not OTT communication services-such as voice and video calls and messaging-should be introduced underneath a licensing/regulatory framework, reminiscent of these mandated for normal telecom suppliers like Airtel, Vodafone Concept and Reliance Jio.
“Prima facie, the web sites that use dynamic IP addresses and are hosted on cloud servers can pose a problem to traditional strategies of blocking. In such conditions, various strategies could also be essential to successfully management web filtering. Superior strategies could be employed to determine and block entry to such web sites,” Trai’s paper mentioned.
It additionally requested what lessons of OTT providers ought to be lined underneath selective banning. “What ought to be the provisions and mechanism for such a regulatory framework…Whether or not there’s a have to selectively ban particular web sites other than OTT providers to fulfill the needs,” it requested in its dialogue paper that can assist finalise suggestions which might be submitted to the division of telecom (DoT) for additional motion.
Trai additionally desires to know whether or not there’s a have to carry OTT communication providers underneath any licensing/regulatory framework to advertise a aggressive panorama for the good thing about customers and repair innovation. Additionally, the regulator desires to know what ought to be the provisions within the licensing/regulatory framework for OTT communication providers that ought to be centered upon particularly. These might embrace areas like lawful interception; privateness and safety; emergency providers; unsolicited industrial communication; buyer verification; high quality of service; shopper grievance redressal; and license charge.
Telecom firms reminiscent of Airtel and Vodafone Concept have lengthy argued for a “identical service identical guidelines” regulatory setting the place all these offering voice/video and messaging providers ought to be introduced underneath the identical set of regulatory mandates. “Written feedback on the problems raised within the session paper are invited from stakeholders by August 4 and counter feedback by August 18,” Trai mentioned.
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