Telcos seek regulatory framework to levy usage charge on OTTs, exemption for small players

Telecom operators industry body COAI has written to the government to set-up a licensing and regulatory framework to charge a ‘usage fee’ from big internet-based calling and messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Google Duo.

In a letter to Telecom Secretary K Rajaraman last week, the Cellular Operators Association of India Director General S P Kochhar said that charges may be limited based on usage of the network without burdening over-the-top (OTT) players in micro, small and medium enterprise segment.

The Department of Telecommunications has proposed to define OTT players providing call and messaging service as telecom service providers (TSPs).