Net Neutrality: DoT panel’s recommendations bring level-play between OTT and telecom players, Telecom Minister clarifies report not final

According to a report by Economic Times (ET), Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the industry body representing the GSM mobile companies like Airtel, Idea, Vodafone etc. welcomes the decision of telecom panel’s recommendation to bring Voice-based OTT services under regulations.

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“It is indeed what is required. Voice-based OTT service players should be subjected to the same regulations and licensing regime as those which have been mandated for telecom operators as they are providing the same services,” a COAI functionary said.

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However, no official reaction has come out as COAI is still studying the 100-page report of the panel.

Also, a few telecom players feel that DoT panel should also have specified tax structure for voice-based OTT players. “We have to pay a license fee, apart from all the regulatory obligations. I feel that the DoT committee should have specified that there should be a license fee on VoIP players, rather just making hints towards such a move,” said a top official with a leading telecom operator to ET.

According to the report, the licensing of OTT players who provide domestic call services will provide a fair-play between the net telephony and the telecom operators. OTT players will be licensed under section 4 of the Indian Telegraph Act. “VoIP players enjoy a pricing and regulatory arbitrage, which needs to be addressed as it is a “matter of serious concern” for policy makers,” said the six-member panel.

Umashankar, a key member of the government committee said that the intention of the proposal is to ensure that the data prices do not go up, and mobile infrastructure and internet subscribers grow.