The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has called on the Indian government to bring over-the-top (OTT) communication apps, such as WhatsApp, Google Meet, and Telegram, under the purview of the Telecommunications Act, 2023. This request is driven by concerns over national security and the need for regulatory parity between telecom service providers and OTT platforms.

SP Kochhar, Director General of COAI, emphasized the importance of national security, stating, “COAI firmly believes that the security of the country must take precedence. All communication service providers, including OTT-based services, should adhere to the same regulatory directives as telecom service providers.” According to Kochhar, telecom operators have made substantial investments in infrastructure to facilitate lawful interception and monitoring, which are essential for ensuring security.

Despite these investments, Kochhar highlighted that OTT communication apps operate in an unregulated space, thus bypassing the monitoring and interception infrastructure that telecom operators are obligated to maintain. This lack of regulation poses significant security risks and creates an uneven playing field, with OTT services not subject to the same stringent controls as traditional telecom operators.

The COAI’s stance reflects growing concerns about the rapid expansion of OTT services and their potential to undermine national security. By advocating for the inclusion of these apps under the Telecommunications Act, COAI aims to address what it perceives as a critical gap in regulatory oversight.

Kochhar further criticized the idea of exempting OTT apps from the Act, arguing that such a move would be misleading given that telecom operators also face various non-sectoral regulations. He stressed that all communication service providers should be held to similar standards to maintain a secure and fair industry environment.

The COAI’s proposal highlights the need for comprehensive regulatory frameworks that encompass the evolving landscape of digital communication, ensuring that all players in the sector contribute equally to national security and regulatory compliance.