The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will expedite the process for satellite spectrum pricing before addressing the regulatory concerns related to over-the-top (OTT) applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Google Meet, TRAI Chairman, Anil Kumar Lahoti, said.
Lahoti said that a consultation paper on pricing for Satellite Spectrum will be released in the coming days.
Reports quoted Lahoti saying, “OTT was not part of this paper (Service Authorisation Framework under Telecommunications Act 2023). It is being discussed separately. Right now, we have to take up spectrum pricing on a priority basis.”
The telecom regulator will explore if OTT apps need to be regulated under the Telecommunications Act 2023, he said.
Telecom operators have raised concerns regarding TRAI’s recent recommendation for a new regime that suggests permitting the provision of telecom service through a single authorisation, in contrast to the previous requirement of a license.
Lahoti stated that TRAI has only proposed a framework to be implemented under the Telecommunications Act of 2023 to facilitate the provision of services.
“Our entire team was occupied in this massive exercise of recommending a new framework. We will now work on recommendations for spectrum pricing,” he added.
When asked about the timeline for recommending satellite communications spectrum pricing, Lahoti stated that the consultation would be floated in the coming days.
