OTT communication services should be licensed: COAI

OTT communication services include the likes of WhatsApp, Signal, Google Meet, Telegram and other similar apps

Telecom operators' body COAI on November 22 made a strong pitch for OTT (over-the-top) communication services to directly compensate telcos for data traffic they are driving onto the networks, as it advocated a licensing and light-touch regulation framework for such services.

Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) Director General S.P. Kochhar said the association, as part of the draft telecom bill, has given its suggestions on how OTT communication services should be defined to ensure there is no ambiguity.

Other aspects like exact financial model for OTT communication services to compensate telecom service providers will be made to the government going forward as and when the nuances of framework for light-touch regulation is discussed, Mr. Kochhar told reporters at a briefing.

OTT communication services include the likes of WhatsApp, Signal, Google Meet, Telegram and other similar apps.

In future, the same principle of revenue share basis data consumption can be applied to other OTTs (all categories) as well, he added. For now, COAI's suggestions are confined to the realm of OTT communication apps, not the entire ecosystem, since the draft bill mentions communication apps.

Also Read | COAI for bringing all OTT players under regulation

COAI maintained that KYC is an essential requirement, be it for telcos or OTT communication services.