NEW DELHI: Despite demands from telecom service providers to bring them under licencing, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has excluded over-the-top (OTT) communication apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram from its new authorisation regime.
The regulatory body on Wednesday released the recommendations on the Framework for Service Authorisations to be granted under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Telecom service providers such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea demanded to bring OTT services like WhatsApp, Telegram and Skype under regulation, referencing the Act. They argued that the bill’s broad definition of “message” could encompass OTT communication services.
“These recommendations are aimed at a major revamp of existing telecommunication service licencing regime and at fostering growth and enhancing ease of doing business in the sector. Through these recommendations, TRAI has recommended a new service authorisation framework, apart from detailed terms and conditions of various service authorisations to be granted under the Telecommunications Act, 2023,” reads the recommendation.
TRAI merged commercial VSAT-CUG and GMPCS services into a single authorisation, dubbed ‘Satellite-based Telecommunication Service Authorization’. Additionally, TRAI suggested reducing the licence fee.
It has suggested reducing licence fee for various telecommunication services including a major reduction in entry fees for different service authorisations. This is expected to encourage new entrants and boost competition. To achieve the objective of ‘One Nation - One Authorisation’, TRAI has introduced the Unified Service Authorisation.
Entities holding this authorisation can provide a wide range of telecommunication services including mobile, internet, broadband, landline, long-distance, satellite communication, and M2M services on pan-India basis. Merging of bank guarantees and replacing affidavit with a self-certificate is expected to simplify procedures and enhance the ease of doing business.