New Delhi: The Telecom Regulator Authority of India (TRAI) is most unlikely to give its nod to Bharti Airtel’s proposal to offer exclusive video content through a private network to a closed group of users if it is already available on the internet.
According to a report in Economic Times, The TRAI is of the view that discriminatory data pricing isn't allowed and thus giving nod to Airtel’s proposal will be against the ethics.
“As for Airtel's proposal, the regulation prohibiting discriminatory tariffs for data services is amply clear. As long as the video content that they wish to provide over their closed communication network at any tariff isn't available on the internet at another tariff, we think it is perfectly in accordance with the regulation,” a senior TRAI official told the daily.
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Airtel in its proposal to TRAI last week had asked for clarification about its proposed plan to completely offer its customers video content via global content providers.
In its letter to the TRAI, the company had said that ‘it was approached by one of the big global content providers who wishes to offer their video content on exclusive basis over the closed electronics communications network (CECN) of Airtel’. “Such exclusive content would be offered in India to Airtel's customers only," it told regulator.
On the other hand, the TRAI is also preparing a consultation paper on whether over-the-top (OTT) communication companies including Skype and WhatsApp should be regulated on par with telecom operators.
Also, the TRAI will soon start seeking public opinion on whether OTT players like Skype, WhatsApp and Viber need to be regulated in the same way as the telecom companies.
Recently, in February the regulator excluded unfair pricing of data services, efficiently prohibiting controversial plans such as Facebook's Free Basics and Airtel Zero and setting a maximum penalty of Rs 50 lakh for violators.
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