New Regulatory Framework Coming for Skype, WhatsApp, Viber: TRAI

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Regulatory framework for the over-the-top communication platforms will be reduced. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is soon to announce it for companies like Skype, Viber and WhatsApp as they drive data consumption on networks.

TRAI official said to a daily publication, “We have reduced the scope of that paper. We have already issued recommendations on net neutrality and previously on differential pricing. Now, very few issues are left with respect to OTT. We have to look at regulatory imbalance (with respect to telecom operators). But telecom operators themselves are saying OTTs are helping data consumption.”

Earlier TRAI wanted to regulate framework around OTT players alleging the platforms were cutting telecom revenues.

However, now the telcos are happy that data consumption is taking place on such OTT platforms and so most of the companies are offering unlimited free voice calls.

Couple of years before it was argued whether the OTT players would be brought under the licensing regime fearing their growth was affecting traditional revenue stream of operators. Then relatively larger share of revenue of operators came from voice calls. Even now voice calls are considered as important source of revenue, but telcos are also focusing more on data.

Apart from all these the revenue loss issue has been reduced and this is the reason most of the operators are offering free voice calls.