Calling and messaging apps must comply with the country’s security regulations, as must telecommunications companies, says COAI

Telecom operators expect Internet calls and messaging Apps like WhatsApp, Google Meet and Telegram must comply with rules in the same way as all service providers, industry body says COAI On Monday, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), whose members include Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea among others, said it is misleading to demand exclusion of over-the-top (OTT) communication apps from the Telecom Act, 2023 as they are subject to other regulations because several non-sectoral rules also apply to telecom operators.

“COAI wishes to state that the ‘Security of the Country’ is of utmost importance and, in this regard, all communication service providers, including OTT-based communication services“They should adhere to the required country guidelines just like telecom service providers do,” said COAI Director General SP Kochhar.

He said telecom operators have invested heavily in establishing the infrastructure for lawful interception and monitoring.

“However, despite these investments, unregulated app-based communications services completely ignore this device, which is a huge security threat to the nation,” Kochhar said.

He said the exponential growth of OTT services and unregulated proliferation of communication services are creating a heady mix of security threats, while creating an uneven playing field for regulated and law-abiding service providers.

Kocchar said some argue that OTT Communication Services should not be subject to the Telecommunications law2023, claiming that they are already regulated under several legislations such as the IT Act, 2000, the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the DPDP Act, 2023. “This argument is completely misleading as the requirement is purely for regulatory oversight of communication services expressly covered under the Telecom Act, 2023. Importantly, TSPs, which are governed by the Telecom Act, are also regulated under all the earlier legislations as prescribed by Parliament,” Kochhar said.

Telecom operators have been demanding that the government provide a level playing field by applying the same rules to calling and messaging apps as they do to them.