Respected TRAI,

As a citizen and tax payer of this country I would like to submit my humble opinion on this matter.

As a layman based on the publicly released financials of major TELCOs (TSP) in India, they are making healthy profits and there is good growth of Data services. The increase in revenue due to increase in data usage by consumers like me should be sufficient. There is no need to charge separately for OTT providers, or OTT providers to pay to TSP.

TSP's worldwide are to be blamed for their monopolistic and poor innovation record for their position today as just "pipe" providers. They charged exorbitant fees for services like MMS in early days which killed the technology and today has led to WhatsApp and Viber. If TRAI approves OTT to pay TSP, it will be compensating for "poor" business decisions of TSPs. That will set a wrong precedent for regulatory bodies like TRAI in other industries to compensate the incumbent when challenged by a nimble start up and destroy the whole "Make in India" movement of Hon'ble Prime Minister.

Thanks.

T.N.C.VENKATARANGAN
CHENNAI - 600 033
venkatarangan@hotmail.com