Telecom Giants Urge Regulation of OTT Apps Under New Telecom Act

India's major telecom operators, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, are calling for over-the-top (OTT) communication apps such as WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to be included under the licensing regime of the new Telecommunication Act, 2023. The inclusion aims to bring OTT apps under similar regulatory frameworks as traditional telecom services, ensuring compliance with national security and consumer protection policies.

India's top telecom operators have collectively requested the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to bring over-the-top (OTT) apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram under the licensing regime defined by the new Telecommunication Act, 2023.

Reliance Jio stated that the new Act encompasses all forms of telecommunication services, including those provided via public internet platforms. Bharti Airtel emphasized that OTT communications lack the regulatory oversight applied to traditional telecom services, posing challenges to law enforcement and consumer privacy.

Vodafone Idea echoed the sentiment, highlighting the global growth of OTT services and advocating for a regulatory framework to ensure consumer protection and data privacy. The industry collectively believes that such regulation would enhance cybersecurity and compliance with national security standards.

(With inputs from agencies.)