According to several reports, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is planning a regulatory framework for regulating internet based IM apps like Whatsapp, Hike, Skype and the likes. Earlier, Airtel had gone one step ahead and imposed separate tariff for using such Internet based VoIP and Over the top (OTP) apps before rolling back that decision. Activists have widely opposed such moves on account of net-neutrality.
Voice service providers however have faced drastic decline in traditional revenue streams like SMS and voice, with many sections using these apps to communicate instead. TRAI chairman had earlier stated that they were starting to frame regulations when the Airtel decision was made.
“Worldwide, there is an ongoing debate among governments, industry and consumers regarding regulations of OTT services and net-neutrality. In this background, Trai today released a consultation paper on the regulatory framework for OTT services.” – Sunil Gupta, TRAI Secretary
Source: Economic Times
Going by the above statement TRAI has released a consultation paper which means that the final decision is still some months down the line. So, firms like Whatsapp and Viber can breathe easy for now. If the TRAI implements regulations on OTT services, apps like WhatsApp, Viber, Skype and many more could end up paying huge sums of money to Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). There’s one more way this could go. Consumers may also end up bearing a part of increased costs by paying additional charges for using these services.
We feel that such actions are uncalled for in a rapidly developing country like India where communications is one of the major factors driving growth. So, instead of making money from these apps, the Government should look forward to increase adoption of such services which allow for cheaper ways to communicate. As for the Telecom companies, the decline in earnings can easily be offset by more and more people opting for internet plans and other Value Added Services (VAS).
