Trai consultation paper triggers a face-off between telcos, OTT players

Trai, in its consultation paper, has pointed out unlike TSPs there is no regulation of OTT players

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (Trai’s) consultation paper on Monday — asking whether OTT (over the top) communication services like WhatsApp, Skype, Hike, Facebook, and Google should be regulated — has triggered a face-off between telcos supporting the move and OTT and broadband players questioning its relevance in changing times.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) will demand a level playing field with OTT communication services players, which, it says, have eaten into their revenues by offering international and domestic calls and messenger services, among others, free of cost. 

COAI Secretary General Rajan Matthew said: “We believe that