The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has sought the views of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to prepare a framework for regulating internet calling and messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Signal, Google Meet etc. The DoT had earlier sent back a recommendation of TRAI on internet telephony issued in 2008 for review and has asked the regulatory body to come up with a comprehensive reference due to the change in the technological environment with the emergence of new technologies.
According to government officials, the internet telephony recommendation of TRAI was not accepted by the DoT. To this end, the department has now sought a comprehensive reference from TRAI for internet telephony and over-the-top players.
Telecom operators have frequently urged the government to apply the ‘same service same rules’ principle in the industry, which requires internet calling and messaging apps to pay the same level of licence fee, comply with the regulation of legal interception, quality of service etc., as applicable on telecom operators and internet service providers.
