Hi,
I would like to give justification for the questions TRAI has asked. These suggestions are purely based on my point of view:
Question 1: 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?
Answer 1: There is no time frame for NET NUETRALITY. Even after 5o years, every customer has a right to access each and every application or websites that he wants if he has a valid data pack from his TSP. In a country like India, wireless internet over the phone is still in the infantry phase and 75% of the citizens of India have no access to internet may be because of connectivity issue or affordability.
Question 2: 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?
Answer 2: The main reason for the invention of internet is open source. It is a fundamental right of every citizen to be connected to the world and has rights to know about the happenings around the world. This is what internet mean. So Licensing is not required for OTT players.
Question 3: Is the growth of OTT impacting the traditional revenue stream of TSPs? If so, is the increase in data revenues of the TSPs sufficient to compensate for this impact?
Answer 3: This completely depends upon the TSPs to find new ways of increasing their revenue without violating fundamental rights such as NET NEUTRALITY. for example, Airtel has its own music streaming platform called wynk from which Airtel is making revenue from it. So it completely depends upon the capacity of TSP to increase their revenue.
Question 5: 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?
Answer 5: There are couple of imbalances in the framework which fails to implement 100% net neutrality for the customers.
Question 6: 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?
Answer 6: There has to be a law implemented by TRAI to ensure that all OTT operators regardless of the origin country has to maintain data centres in India itself. Data centres has to be compliant with international standards. By this way, security of the customers can be protected.
Question 7: How should the OTT players offering app services ensure security, safety and privacy of the consumer? How should they ensure protection of consumer interest?
Answer 7: OTT players ensure that high level of encryption has to be implemented in carrying the data from and to data centres also, data centres has to be in India itself.