Govt To Bring Internet Calling, Messaging Apps Under Telecom Bill; WhatsApp, Zoom May Soon Need Licence To Operate
New Delhi: Over-The-Top (OTT) players such as WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Duo, which provides calling and messaging services may come under the ambit of telecom services that require licences to operate in India. This comes after the government proposed to broaden the definition of telecommunication services to include over-the-top (OTT) communication services, internet-based communication services and broadcasting services in the draft telecom bill. “OTT already comes under regulation by interpretation of what is a telegraph. The consultation process for its regulation has already started. The focus of this bill is that we have to make a light touch regulatory environment. Wherever required there should be strict effective regulation and in rest of the places there will be light touch regulation,” communications minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Friday. Read More:- Flipkart festive sales witness highest ever record with 1.6 million users per second The bill proposes all internet calling