The Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today issued the “Consultation Paper on Regulatory
Framework for Over-the-top (OTT) services” seeking
comments of all stakeholders.
Telecom service providers (TSPs) offering fixed and mobile telephony are
currently being overwhelmed by online content,
known as over-the-top (OTT) applications and
services. The term over-the-top (OTT) refers to applications and services which
are accessible over the internet and ride on operators’ networks offering
internet access services e.g. social networks, search engines, amateur video
aggregation sites etc. OTT providers make use of the TSPs’ infrastructure
to reach their customers and offer products/services that not only make money
for them but also compete with the traditional services offered by TSPs. Leave
aside TSPs, these apps also compete with brick and mortar rivals e.g.
e-commerce sites, banking etc. Today, users can directly access these
applications online from any place, at any time, using a variety of internet
connected consumer devices.
The rising penetration of smartphones
(because of declining price) and the up-gradation of access networks by the
TSPs are among the important factors contributing to OTT growth. Digitalization
of content has reduced conservation, reproduction and distribution costs,
which, in turn, has promoted the explosive growth in the supply of online
content. Paradoxically, the broadband networks provided by incumbent TSPs are
used as a platform by the OTT players for the development of new businesses.
The growth of traffic apart, the OTT applications have created an increasing
demand for faster broadband speed, which translates into a need for huge
investments in network up-gradation by the TSPs.
Worldwide there is an ongoing
debate amongst Governments, industry and consumers regarding the regulation of
OTT services and about net-neutrality. In
this background, TRAI has today
released a Consultation Paper on
Regulatory Framework for Over-the-top (OTT) services. This Consultation Paper covers the
views of the service providers and OTT providers, all related issues (including
network neutrality), international experience with network neutrality and
regulation of OTTs (communications and non-communications).
Some of the important issues
discussed in the Consultation Paper are:
a. Policy and regulatory environment and
need for regulation;
b. Current policy dispensation for OTT
players vis-a-vis TSPs;
c. Security concerns of OTT players
providing communication services;
d. Issues related to security, safety and
privacy of the consumers;
e. Issues arising because of
‘net-neutrality’;
f. Network discrimination and traffic
management practices;
g. Non-price based discrimination of
services and ensuring transparency to consumers;
h. Pricing-related issues, including
differential pricing for data access;
Written comments on the Consultation Paper are invited from the
stakeholders by 24th April,
2015 and counter comments by 8thMay, 2015. The comments may be sent,
preferably in electronic form, to Mr. A. Robert J. Ravi, Advisor (QOS) on the
e-mail addressadvqos@trai.gov.in.
The comments can also be faxed to 011-23213036. All comments will be posted on
the TRAI’s website. For any further clarifications please contact Mr. A. Robert
J. Ravi , Advisor (QOS) on 011-23230404.
NNK/MD