OTT Platforms in India Utilizing 5G Networks With out Paying Up, Claims COAI DG

Cellular Operators Association of India Director General S P Kochhar on Thursday made a case for sharing revenue between OTT gamers and telecom corporations for utilizing 5G networks. 

“While telcos carry their traffic of voice and data, majority of the use of these networks is done by OTT players who load these networks with massive amounts of data which they carry to the end users.

“They get it from content material suppliers, put it on their platform and ship it to the tip customers with out paying something to the community suppliers who’ve created the community for them to roll on,” Kochhar said.

OTT players, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Zee5, SonyLIV have significant user base in India.

He said over-the-top platforms benefit from the roll-out of advanced technologies like 5G.

“It is like constructing a home and staying in a single flooring and different flooring are given out on hire that are utilized by the tenant for business functions however he does not pay the hire.

“This is very silly. If I have built something and I give it out on rent, I expect some value to come out of it. I’m not saying that the entire amount of profit that you earn will come to me but some amount should,” he identified.

Telcos are dealing with monetary misery due to their big capex that they’ve incurred to roll out 5G networks, he added.

“We are asking for a fair share for setting up, maintaining and running these networks,” Kochhar added.

Reports counsel that India’s video OTT market is anticipated to the touch $12.5 billion (practically Rs. 1,03,890 crore) by 2030 on the again of entry to higher networks, digital connectivity and smartphones.