Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said that the regulation of over-the-top (OTT) platforms falls under the purview of the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry. His statement comes amid the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) currently reviewing concerns raised by telecom operators regarding the need for OTT platforms to contribute to infrastructure costs.
Scindia also emphasised the importance of establishing a dedicated manufacturing zone for telecom equipment, highlighting it as the Department of Telecommunications’ next priority following the revival of BSNL and powering its 4G expansion.
Telecom operators have consistently called on the government to introduce regulations requiring OTT platforms to contribute to the cost of network infrastructure. They argue that while data consumption has surged dramatically, the expansion of telecom infrastructure has lagged, necessitating cost-sharing from OTTs to bridge the gap.
OTT platforms have strongly opposed the proposal, arguing that imposing stringent regulatory compliances designed for the telecom sector would stifle their ability to innovate and adopt new technologies. They also caution that such measures could force them to shift away from offering free services, ultimately burdening consumers with additional costs.
Media reports quoted Scindia saying, “Manufacturing is key to the telecom sector. As PM Modi has always envisioned, we must be an Atmanirbhar country. The third step is the telecom manufacturing zone. As SEZs are made, a manufacturing zone should be made for the telecom sector.”
