Telecom operators trade physique COAI has written to the federal government to set-up a licensing and regulatory framework to cost a ‘utilization payment’ from huge internet-based calling and messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Google Duo.
In a letter to Telecom Secretary Okay Rajaraman final week, the Cellular Operators Association of India Director General SP Kochhar stated that fees could also be restricted based mostly on utilization of the community with out burdening over-the-top (OTT) gamers in micro, small and medium enterprise section.
The Department of Telecom has proposed to outline OTT gamers offering name and messaging service as telecom service suppliers (TSPs).
COAI stated OTT gamers ought to pay the TSPs for utilizing the telecom community for offering their OTT providers to the shoppers in a good and equitable method by the use of an equal of ‘Usage Charge’ on the idea of mutual settlement.
“There may be instances wherein the OTT players and the TSPs may not agree mutually on ‘Usage Charge’. If a mutual agreement is not reached, then an appropriate licensing and regulatory framework should be in place which governs the contribution of OTT players towards creation of network infrastructure,” Kochhar stated.
He stated that the COAI goal is definitely to not discourage the OTT providers as certainly they generate huge visitors on the community set-up by the TSPs.
At the identical time, these OTTs suppliers proceed to achieve huge direct and oblique advantages on the expense of telecom operators.
“Therefore, we believe that these OTTs must reasonably compensate the TSPs for using the network established by the TSPs,” Kochhar stated.
He stated that The European Commission (EU) is advocating for formalizing due laws for OTT Players to share the community funding burden of the telecom gamers in a proportionate method.
“The EU continues to express concern that there are big tech companies who generate a lot of data traffic but do not invest towards building infrastructure. Governments of France, Italy and Spain sent a joint paper to the Commission in August 2022, requesting for the swift development of a legislative proposal in this regard,” Kochhar stated.
COAI stated the TSPs will likely be receiving the income from OTTs as a part of their telecommunications providers rendered which in flip will profit the federal government by way of increased license payment assortment from telecom corporations on the again of incremental income web calling and messaging apps.
The letter from COAI to DoT is along with the remark of the trade on the Draft Telecommunications Bill, Kochhar stated.
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