Telecom Giants Voice Concerns Over Unlicensed OTT Apps in Meeting with Union Minister

Telecom operators, including executives from Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel, and BSNL, expressed their concerns to Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia regarding Trai's exclusion of messaging and calling apps like WhatsApp and Telegram from new licensing rules. The meeting also discussed issues related to adjusted gross revenue payments.

In a recent meeting with Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, telecom operators raised concerns over Trai's decision to exclude messaging and calling apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram from new licensing rules. According to sources, the meeting was attended by key industry figures including Reliance Jio Chairman Akash Ambani, Vodafone Idea CEO Akshaya Moondra, Bharti Airtel MD and CEO Gopal Vittal, and BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Robert J Ravi.

The telecom operators emphasized the need for over-the-top (OTT) apps to be brought under the ambit of telecom licenses, arguing that these platforms offer similar calling and messaging services as traditional telecom operators. Despite their demands, Trai's recent recommendations on the Telecommunications Act 2023 did not include these apps. Operators also highlighted the impact of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) liabilities on the sector's health. Notably, Vodafone Idea (VIL) and Bharti Airtel are grappling with AGR liabilities of Rs 70,320 crore and Rs 21,500 crore, respectively.

During the discussion, Scindia also addressed the issue of unsolicited commercial calls, which telecom operators cited as a significant concern. Following the meeting with telecom operators, Scindia also engaged with telecom equipment makers such as Dixon Technologies, Nokia, Ericsson, Sterlite Technologies, and VVDN.

(With inputs from agencies.)