Trai issues a new consultation paper; this time on cloud computing policies

India’s telecom regulator, Trai, has again continued the streak of issuing consultation papers on all the relevant issues this season. This time, the regulator has issued a paper to seek stakeholders’ views on cloud computing-related issues such as data security, service quality and legal and regulatory frameworks.

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Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), in the paper, said that business enterprises are now increasingly seeking to reshape their business models to gain benefits from this new paradigm of resource sharing. “With a view to bring out all relevant aspects of the issues and to provide a suitable platform for discussions, TRAI has initiated this consultation paper to engage the industry and all the stakeholders on the key issues,” the regulator said.

Trai said that the last date for sending written comments is July 8, while that for counter-comments is July 22, 2016. According to various media reports, the Trai’s consultation paper follows a request by the telecom department dating back to December 2012, where the latter sought recommendations on regulatory framework for cloud computing, security over cloud, quality of service of cloud services, interoperability among cloud players and legal framework for multiple jurisdictions.

The sector regulator has sought views on the protocol required for cloud service providers (CSPs) to submit to the territorial jurisdiction of India for offering lawful access of information. Trai, in the paper, said, “What should be the effective guidelines for and actions against those CSPs that are identified to be in possession of information related to commission of a breach of national security of India?”