128 Indian start-ups, including Paytm, Zerodha, and PhonePe, have strongly urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to refrain from imposing licensing regulations on internet companies. They argue that such measures threaten net neutrality and emphasize that internet services are already governed by the IT Act of 2000. The debate over regulating over-the-top (OTT) communication services like WhatsApp and Messenger was ignited by the draft Telecommunication Bill 2022. Telecom providers advocate for regulation, suggesting OTT entities share network usage fees. However, internet firms assert that this goes against India’s Startup India initiative and may lead to discrimination and compliance issues, undermining fair competition.
Indian Start-ups Rally Against Licensing for OTT Companies to Safeguard Net Neutrality
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