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?
Ans:- The answer is already in your question, its to early for any such regulations, the speed of internet even in metropolitians are still low so bringing any such framework will hamper any increase in net coverage for the population and hamper the digital india initiative by our prime minister. Already the net packagesare quite high for some operators like airtel. 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?
Ans:- No licensing regime will again increase the cost of internet and decrease the connectivity among peope in genral. 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.
Ans:- No not at all they are not impacted by such ott services infact thess ott services have increased there revenue with increased connecyivity causing increased data usage.
Question 4: 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?
Ans:- Any kind of price on bandwith consumption will be used by operaters to stiffle the services mentioned above. 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?
Ans:- Under prevailing laws maybe the ott services provider can pay a small part of the profit to the operators.. 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? Please comment with justifications.
Ans:-Ott can be asked for complaince in specific cases with investigation total coverage of will amount to snooping. It will be agaunst basic human rights of privacy. Govt can ask for coordination from originating country of ott provider. 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? Please comment with justifications.
Ans:-Ott services can install some kind of filters some filters are already present in some ott servuces like youtube skype can do similar thing for there services. Question 8: In what manner can the proposals for a regulatory framework for OTTs in India draw from those of ETNO, referred to in para 4.23 or the best practices summarised in para 4.29? And, what practices should be proscribed by regulatory fiat? Please comment with justifications. Question 9: What are your views on net-neutrality in the Indian context? How should the various principles discussed in para 5.47 be dealt with?
Ans:- Net neutrality is a global matter with lot campaigns going on around the world. Any such regulation can be used by govt to stiffle any kind of protest and we will be moving from democarcy to a totalitarian regime. Question 10: What forms of discrimination or traffic management practices are reasonable and consistent with a pragmatic approach? What should or can be permitted? Please comment with justifications.
Ans:- Any form of discrimination cannot be allowed in any democracy its agains the basic principle of democracy Question 11: 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?
Ans:- Yes they should publish traffic management data because they shouldnt be doing such traffic management on ott services because TSP are corporate bodies and they cant be truted on this issue. Question 12: How should a conducive and balanced environment be created such that TSPs are able to invest in network infrastructure and CAPs are able to innovate and grow? Who should bear the network upgradation costs? Please comment with justifications
Ans:- as said before ott's can share a part of there profit the users shouldnt be burdened with any extra charges. Question 13: Should TSPs be allowed to implement non-price based discrimination of services? If so, under what circumstances are such practices acceptable? What restrictions, if any, need to be placed so that such measures are not abused? What measures should be adopted to ensure transparency to consumers? Please comment with justifications.
ans:- no tsp's shouldnt be allowed to adopt descriminatory prices because this again stiffle the use of internet by the masses Question 14: Is there a justification for allowing differential pricing for data access and OTT communication services? If so, what changes need to be brought about in the present tariff and regulatory framework for telecommunication services in the country? Please comment with justifications.
Ans:- There is no justification for such a move Question 15: Should OTT communication service players be treated as Bulk User of Telecom Services (BuTS)? How should the framework be structured to prevent any discrimination and protect stakeholder interest? Please comment with justification. Question 16: What framework should be adopted to encourage India- specific OTT apps? Please comment with justifications.
Ans:- the easy of doing buisness in india should be improved so that the services providers can operate by making india there primary base. And we should encourage enterpreneurship among our youngsters. Question 17: If the OTT communication service players are to be licensed, should they be categorised as ASP or CSP? If so, what should be the framework? Please comment with justifications. Question 18: Is there a need to regulate subscription charges for OTT communication services? Please comment with justifications. Question 19: What steps should be taken by the Government for regulation of non-communication OTT players? Please comment with justifications. Question 20: Are there any other issues that have a bearing on the subject discussed?
I tried to answer as many questions as i could to the best of ky knowledge.
Finally what i would like to say is that these ott services are the best of communication in the present time.
The statemebt that it affects tsp's is unsubstaniated at best as the tsp have been increasing there revenue through increased call charges.
A govt organisation should be pro people not pro industry and these big industries can easily divesify to keep there profits high.
Lastly if you want india to be a democracy and achieve the digital india goal of our primeminister youhave to be in favour of complete net neutrality otherwise we could be going back to emergency era or moving to a totalitarian regime.