Telecom regulator to take more time on OTT norms

Telecom regulator TRAI will take additional time to finalise its views on Over-The-Top norms and issues around lawful interception and security are expected to be the key focus, an official said. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s deliberations on the issue may take at least one more month to conclude, as it is looking at international practices and regulations around OTTs, particularly on security-related aspects.

OTT services refer to applications and services that are accessible over the internet and ride on an operator’s network. Skype, Viber, WhatsApp and Hike are some of the popular and widely-used OTT services.

A senior TRAI official said the regulator wants to take a “practical approach” to the OTT issue.