Telecom giants in the country asked TRAI to establish new regulations for OTT communication apps such as WhatsApp, and more.
As per them, these new messaging apps provide services similar to those offered by mobile operators.
This is because the OTT platforms are increasingly replacing traditional telecom services.
Remember the days when we used to send SMSs and now all of us have shifted to apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram. And looks like the telecom operators like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea have a problem with that. We reported yesterday how the biggest telecom companies of the country asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to establish new regulations for over-the-top (OTT) communication apps such as WhatsApp, Google’s RCS, and Telegram. Why do they want that? Let me tell you.
As per the telecom giants, these new messaging apps such as WhatsApp, and Telegram provide services similar to those offered by mobile operators. Hence, they should also be subject to licensing requirements. They are pushing for the creation of a licensing framework for these OTT services, which operate over the Internet and offer features like text messaging and voice calls.
Also read: Jio, Airtel, and Vi ask TRAI to restrict messaging apps like WhatsApp for “mimicking” services
Why do Jio, Airtel, and Vi want TRAI to regulate social media app?
The reason why they want this is because the OTT platforms are increasingly replacing traditional telecom services and they don’t have enough regulations. Airtel said that OTT services have become so successful just because they can surpass the regulatory barriers. This enables them to offer instant access to users worldwide through broadband connections. The company is worried that the OTT apps can completely replace conventional text and voice services provided by telecom operators.
However, the OTT apps are totally against this proposal. They said that they are already regulated under the existing IT laws. According to them, licensing requirements could limit innovation and the accessibility of their services.
In addition to this, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea are also backing TRAI’s initiative to change the current telecom licensing system. The proposal includes introducing a Unified Services Authorization (USA), a single license system across India. This will be a big change since 1994.
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Mustafa Khan
Mustafa is new on the block and is a tech geek who is currently working with Digit as a News Writer. He tests the new gadgets that come on board and writes for the news desk. He has found his way with words and you can count on him when in need of tech advice. No judgement. He is based out of Delhi, he’s your person for good photos, good food recommendations, and to know about anything GenZ. View Full Profile
