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 and messaging apps to comply with the Know Your Customers (KYC) provision when they come under telecom licence ambit. The minister said the first fundamental thought in the bill is about protection of users and every consumer has the right to know who is making the call. 

“If calls can take place from different platforms then every platform needs to come under the same kind of regulation. This is not only in India, this is the thought process across the world. Technology has brought so many changes that the distinction between voice call and data call has disappeared,” Vaishnaw said.

Read More:-UPI Lite enables low-value payments without pin or internet; know all about it

WHAT DOES THE NEW TELECOM BILL PROPOSES

  1. The bill proposes up to one year imprisonment for giving false identity for availing telecom services.
  2. Telecom service providers will be given an option to shift to the new rule.
  3. The bill proposes to slash the maximum penalty of telecom operators to Rs 5 crore from Rs 50 crore per circle imposed at present.
  4. The bill proposes a penalty in the range of nil to maximum Rs 5 crore.
  5. The government in the bill has proposed a provision to waive fees and penalty of telecom and internet service providers.
  6. Vaishnaw said that the government will focus on continuity of service in case a company goes for insolvency as at the end the spectrum will come back to the government.
  7. The bill proposes an enabling framework for the Centre to address defaults in payment by a licensee, registered entity or assignee.
  8. In case of extraordinary circumstances, the government can decide to defer the due payment, convert a part or all of the amounts into shares of the entity, write-off the amount or a part of it or even provide relief from payment of such amounts or a part.
  9. The draft also has a provision for a refund of fees in case a telecom or internet provider surrenders its licence.

Also Read : 7th Pay Commission Promotion: Minimum qualifying service criteria for promotion of central government employees revised

Union Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that new telecom bill, which will replace the 137-year-old Indian Telegraph Act, is expected to be in place in 6-10 months. The bill also seeks to replace the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950. “Based on the consultation process, we will create the final draft. That draft will then go through committee processes of Parliament. Then it has to go to Parliament. I see a timeline of 6-10 months but we are not in a hurry,” said Vaishnaw, giving detailed presentation in a press conference.

Also Read : Lost your money to ONLINE fraud: This is what you MUST do immediately in case of financial cybercrime

Trai issued a consultation paper in 2018 for bringing a regulatory framework for OTT apps that permitted communication over voice or data. But in September 2020, it decided against proceeding with any regulations after consultations with stakeholders. However, it had noted that it could review the decision later.

Source :
India.com

RELATED ITEMS:, , , , 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Senior Citizen Train Ticket Discount: Government has issued a new statement regarding giving discount to senior citizens on train tickets, know the details here

Image
  Senior Citizen Train Ticket Discount: Once again a demand has been made in the Lok Sabha to give discount to senior citizens on train tickets. Senior Citizen Train Ticket Discount:  Railways has withdrawn the discount given to senior citizens on train tickets since the Corona period. However, from time to time there has been a demand to restore this concession given to senior citizens in trains. Even in the winter session of the Lok Sabha, some members raised the demand for increasing fare concessions and facilities for senior citizens traveling in trains. However, even before this, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has told in the Lok Sabha that during the train journey, every passenger is given an average subsidy of 53 percent on the train ticket. Apart from this, he also told who gets discount on tickets while traveling by train. Demand for discount in train tickets raised again During Zero Hour in the House, Janata Dal (United) MP Kaushalendra Kumar said that before the ...
Read more

Cash Transaction Rules: Income tax rules on cash transaction between Husband-Wife and Son-Father, know rules

Image
  Cash Transaction Rules: Income tax keeps an eye on our every transaction. But is there any tax on cash transactions or can Income Tax send a notice? Or how much cash transaction can take place between you and your wife or between father and son? If you also have these questions in your mind, then let us know their answers… If you also transact money between father and son or between husband and wife, then this news is useful for you. Actually, every transaction of ours has an eye on income. In such a situation, a question arises in the minds of many people whether income tax notice can be received even on cash transactions? Let us know how much cash transaction you can do in your family. Income tax sends notice? According to tax experts, if you give money every month for household expenses or give money as a gift, then the wife is not liable for income tax. Both these types of amounts will be considered as the income of the husband. The wife will not receive any notice from the I...
Read more

Have a Current/Savings Bank Account? Know the Cash Deposit Limits under Income Tax Act to avoid Penalties and Notices

Image
  Adhering to cash deposit and withdrawal limits is crucial to remain compliant with the Income Tax Act in India. This article aims to elucidate the various facets of cash-related regulations, encompassing savings and current accounts, fixed deposits, credit card bill payments, real estate transactions, and more.  Cash Deposit Limits in Savings and Current Accounts The Indian Income Tax Act imposes specific regulations on significant cash deposits in savings accounts. Individuals accumulating INR 10 lakh or more during a fiscal year must notify tax authorities.  For current accounts, this threshold is set higher at INR 50 lakh. Although not immediately taxed, financial institutions report transactions exceeding these limits.  Cash Withdrawal and TDS under Section 194N  Section 194N outlines TDS rules for cash withdrawals. A 2% TDS is levied on withdrawals exceeding INR 1 crore within a fiscal year. Non-filers face a 2% TDS on withdrawals over INR 20 lakh and a 5...
Read more