The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is also finalizing the recommendations on the crucial over-the-top (OTT) players and would notify the regulations soon
The Telecom regulator is expecting that the government will seek its inputs for speedy and effective implementation of the National Digital Communication Policy (NDCP), TRAI Chairman R.S. Sharma told IANS.
The NDCP policy was approved by the government last year. It aims to create four million jobs and draw a whopping $100 billion worth investments into the telecom sector by 2022, apart from boosting the sector’s contribution to GDP to 8 per cent from current 6 per cent.
An official of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), however, informed the news agency that the department has, so far, not decided on referring the NDCP execution to TRAI. Mention may be made that DoT had sought TRAI inputs while making the policy.
Ongoing consultations on OTTs and paper bills
According to Sharma, TRAI is also finalizing the recommendations on the crucial over-the-top (OTT) players and would notify the regulations soon.
In November, the TRAI initiated consultations to explore the regulatory framework for OTT apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Google Duo that provide calling and messaging services similar to that by mobile operators.
“The consultation on OTT is almost final, so we will be giving recommendations very soon. OTT is a tech-related issue… The current definition of OTT which we are saying and are consulting relates to similar services being offered by platforms which are being offered by telecom service providers. That’s a very limited part for which the consultation is happening”, Sharma told IANS.
In addition, he said the regulator is in consultation with the industry on discontinuing printed paper bills.
