TRAI releases Consultation Paper on OTT regulation

TRAI releases Consultation Paper on Regulatory Mechanism for Over-The-Top (OTT) Communication Services, and Selective Banning of OTT Services

NEW DELHI — The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released a Consultation Paper on Regulatory Mechanism for Over-The-Top (OTT) Communication Services, and Selective Banning of OTT Services.

Department of Telecommunications (DoT), through a letter dated 07.09.2022, requested TRAI to reconsider its recommendations on Regulatory Framework for Over-The-Top (OTT) Communication Services dated 14.09.2020 and suggest a suitable regulatory mechanism for OTTs, including issues relating to ‘selective banning of OTT services’ as part of its recommendations.

Through the letter dated 07.09.2022, DoT has also mentioned that “in view of the humongous growth of OTT services in the recent past and these services having reached a matured stage, there is a need to holistically look into the various aspects of these services induding regulatory, economic, security, privacy, and safety aspects. This is also in keeping with para 2.2 of the National Digital Communications Policy – 2018 which mentions the policy goal for “Ensuring a holistic and harmonized approach for harnessing Emerging Technologies”. It has been mentioned therein that a policy framework for ‘Over the Top’services will be developed.”

In response to the DoT letter dated 07.09.2022, TRAI through its letter dated 01.11.2022 conveyed to DoT that “the Authority is of the view that a fresh consultation process may be initiated to frame suitable regulatory framework for OTT”.

In this regard, a Consultation Paper on Regulatory Mechanism for Over-The-Top (OTT) Communication Services, and Selective Banning of OTT Services, seeking inputs from stakeholders, has been placed on TRAI’s website. Written comments on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper are invited from stakeholders by 4th August 2023 and counter comments by 18th August 2023.

The comments/counter-comments may be sent, preferably in electronic form, at advmn©trai.gov.in. For any clarification/information, Shri Akhilesh Kumar Trivedi, Advisor (Networks, Spectrum and Licensing), TRAI may be contacted at Telephone Number +91-11-23210481.