OTT regulation pitch draws flak

New Delhi: Industry bodies and civil society organisations on Thursday countered telco’s demands to regulate OTTs and charge them ‘fair share’ by submitting counter comments on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) consultation paper on the regulatory framework for OTT communication services and the selective banning of OTT services. The TRAI proposal on selective banning of OTT or Internet services has resulted in a fierce debate among the industry bodies, internet companies and startup founders. The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) said the majority of ‘OTT services’, are in addition to, and not in derogation or substitution of, traditional telecommunications (or broadcasting) services.