Trai to finalise views on OTT by May-end

New Delhi: Telecom regulator Trai hopes to finalise, by May-end its views on whether Over-The-Top (OTT) services like Whatsapp and Skype should be brought under the regulatory regime, an issue on which it has kept an "open mind" and studied global best practices and European model, a top official said.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Chairman R S Sharma said that the regulator has also studied the European Electronic Communications Code (European Union is amending the common rules regulating the telecom industry) and will keep global best practices in mind while formulating its opinion. 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.

"We have studied the European Union's model...they have come up with Electronic Communications Code. We have also studied global best practices and we will keep those in mind," Sharma said.

The European Electronic Communications Code outlines updated rules for providers of mobile and fixed-line services, moots regulations for new online communications services and is a move towards harmonising a single European telecom market.

Trai is holding an open house discussion on OTT issues in Bengaluru on Wednesday and plans to have a similar one in Delhi soon. "We have an open mind, like in all consultations where we follow a set process ... By May-end we should be able to formulate our recommendation or regulation on the matter," Sharma said.

Last year, Trai had issued its consultation paper -- Regulatory Framework for Over The Top Communications Services' - to debate whether OTT players should be brought under the regulatory regime.