2024-08-26 21:40:27
There has been a lot of discussion about apps like WhatsApp and Telegram for a long time. Actually, telecom companies say that these apps provide similar services to them and no ban is imposed on them. In such a situation, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made it clear that they have no intention of doing so. That is, no such ban is going to be imposed on it.
This clarification from DoT can definitely shock Jio, Airtel and Vodafone. Because telecom companies wanted that rules should also be applicable to WhatsApp and Telegram which will help in taking a decision about them. Operators had said that the new Act has a different definition of telecommunication and it should also be applicable to WhatsApp and Telegram. But OTT players rejected it outright. They had said that they are already following the rules of DoT.
DoT said, ‘The interpretation of OTT regulation is not simple. This is why stakeholders are understanding it in their own way. Things will become clear after some time when all the rules will be completely clear in it. But right now DoT has no intention to regulate OTT players.’ Actually the Telecom Act is quite different and only licensed telecom operators can be controlled in it.
TRAI, COAI have already presented the paper-
Keeping security in mind, the central government is brainstorming on under which rule OTT apps can be regulated. The Ministry of Electronics and IT will decide on how it can regulate it. However, it is not yet clear whether this will be possible or not. Because before this, TRAI and COAI have also talked about controlling such apps. In July last year, papers were presented by TRAI and it was said to control the apps.