- Is it too early to establish a regulatory framework for OTT services, since internet penetration is still evolving, access speeds are generally low and there is limited coverage of high-speed broadband in the country? Or, should some beginning be made now with a regulatory framework that could be adapted to changes in the future?
at this point of time there is no need to even think about these issues,our country seriously lacks proper internet penetration and access speeds,its illogical to think that these services are denting the revenue of companies.
- Should the OTT players offering communication services (voice, messaging and video call services) through applications (resident either in the country or outside) be brought under the licensing regime?
No.
- Is the growth of OTT impacting the traditional revenue stream of telecom service providers (TSPs)? If so, is the increase in data revenues of the TSPs sufficient to compensate for this impact?
Not at all,increase in data revenue is enough.just take my personal example,earlier without internet I used to have these recharges in my mobile.
100 rs topup +30 rs for messaging pack.
now after the smartphones and internet I don't take messaging pack because of these OTT.now my monthly bill goes like this
100rs topus +150 rs for 1gb internet.
obviously I am paying way more to these companies as compared to earlier days,now the 3g is so costly that for me its stupid to use it for video or voice calling.
- Should the OTT players pay for use of the TSPs network over and above data charges paid by consumers? If yes, what pricing options can be adopted? Could such options include prices based on bandwidth consumption? Can prices be used as a means product/service differentiation?
Not at all,OTT players don't use the TSPs network for free,we pay for the bandwidth which OTT players use. asking OTT for the money is just like if electricity company goes to a factory and says "you are making profit using my electricity,so give me some share from your profit".
TSPs are free to roll out there own services to compete with OTT just like what airtel did by launching hike messenger.
- Do you agree that imbalances exist in the regulatory environment in the operation of OTT players? If so, what should be the framework to address these issues? How can the prevailing laws and regulations be applied to OTT players (who operate in the virtual world) and compliance enforced? What could be the impact on the economy?
TSPs should be advised to understand the change and demand of maket,time has changed and you can not run your business with old standards. internet is the need of time and no one is asking it for free,people are paying 100-600 rs pm just for the internet.
- How should the security concerns be addressed with regard to OTT players providing communication services? What security conditions such as maintaining data records, logs etc. need to be mandated for such OTT players? And, how can compliance with these conditions be ensured if the applications of such OTT players reside outside the country?
security is a genuine concern and regulations can be made in this field. every OTT can be made to sign the agreement that if they want to run their services in india then they have to provide all the data records and logs when asked for a particular person.
- How should the OTT players offering app services ensure security, safety and privacy of the consumer? How should they ensure protection of consumer interest?
OTT players should not provide any information or data to anyone but only to government in certain emergency conditions.
of OTTs are found guilty ,they can be penalised.
- What are your views on net-neutrality in the Indian context?
for me internet should be open and neutral at all cost,without this corporates are going to find some way or the other to extort money from the public,other services and small business are going to suffer a lot if more bandwith is provided to big companies.this can make thing worst in the future. internet is the future,if its not open and neutral then its going to hamper many upcoming ideas and small scale business in the future.
- What forms of discrimination or traffic management practices are reasonable and consistent with a pragmatic approach? What should or can be permitted?
traffic can be managed in emergency situations like in riots where it is necessary to stop the spread of rumours.
- Should the TSPs be mandated to publish various traffic management techniques used for different OTT applications? Is this a sufficient condition to ensure transparency and a fair regulatory regime?
operations of TSP should be made transparent.