TRAI seeks to regulate OTT players like Skype, Viber, WhatsApp and Google Talk

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Telecom regulator TRAI today started the process to prepare regulatory framework for Internet-based calling and messaging applications like Skype, Viber, WhatsApp and Google Talk, known as over-the-top (OTT) players.

“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 regulatory framework for OTT services,” TRAI Secretary Sudhir Gupta said in a statement.

At present, consumers get to make phone calls and send messages using Internet connection through mobile applications and their computers. They are required to pay only Internet bandwidth consumed but nothing on per call or message basis.

Telecom operators and VoIP service providers or OTT players have been at loggerheads over this issue.

Telecom operators have said that OTT players like Skype, WhatsApp, Viber etc are eating up their main revenue without investing in networks.

http://indianexpress.com/article/te...rs-like-skype-viber-whatsapp-and-google-talk/
 
FailTel owns Hike, so of course they want to charge for Whatsapp calls/messages. This way they can introduce 'Free' Hike packs.
 
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