JOIN USThe Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is seeking public suggestions and has invited comments from users on Over the Top (OTT) services such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Viber and Gtalk.
Joining the nationwide debate over telecom customers having to pay for OTT services, TRAI has sought opinions from the public on a consultation paper released by the authority.
Addressing hundreds of telecom consumers, telecom service providers and several representatives from consumer forums during an outreach programme on Monday, TRAI chairman Dr Rahul Khullar said consultations were underway with all stakeholders for OTT services.
He said, “TRAI has sought the views of the public and the stakeholders relating to security concerns, issues of safety and privacy, traffic management practices and pricing,” he said.
Khullar said that the regulating authority had started a consultation on providing broadband services to all. He said, “We will bring out a paper early next month on what needs to be done to provide broadband services to all,” he said.
Several customers raised issues related to porting requests and the promotion of internet services through existing infrastructure of cable TV operators. Regarding the tower network, TRAI chairman said that the government needs to release more spectrum to the sector to overcome the deficiency in service. On a query as to whether the government can promote internet services through the existing infrastructure of cable TV Operators, Khullar said that this was being positively explored. The chairman also said, “Unless there are towers, we cannot have network connectivity. The misconceptions regarding tower radiation are preventing setting up of towers by telecom companies”.
To participate and post comments on OTT services/net neutrality, users can access the consultation paper of TRAI at: http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReaddata/ConsultationPaper/Document/OTT-CP-27032015.pdf