Broadband India Forum (BIF) has suggested that over-the-top (OTT) communication, broadcasting services, and internet-based communication are not telecommunication services.
As a result, the industry body believes that such services should not be included in the licencing framework, according to ET. BIF recommended that OTT services be governed by the IT Act 2000 because they are information technology services. “Telecom networks and over-the-top (OTT) applications operate at different layers.” – BIF. If such players fall under the purview of the telecommunications service licence, it would imply that the government has sole authority over the platforms’ design, construction, development, and operation.