Govt eyes regulatory sandbox for OTT communication apps
OTT) communication apps to test features in a “live but safe environment” before they are allowed to be released for all users.
According to the latest version of the draft Indian Telecommunications Bill 2023, the government will come out with specific administrative rules and eligibility criterion for allowing OTT communication apps such as WhatsApp and Signal to be tested in these regulatory sandboxes.
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This, a senior government official said, would allow both new and existing companies to test features and receive feedback from users and the government on features that are potentially harmful or could be misused.
“One major benefit of such an environment is that MSMEs can test their apps or services with a wider audience before the ‘day zero’ launch,” another official said. “We will come out with specific rules. It is an innovative concept, but we want to make sure how much the government can be involved legally,” the official said.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had in June issued a paper seeking stakeholder comments on eligibility criteria for companies to be allowed to participate in a regulatory sandbox.
In its paper, Trai has said such frameworks allow and encourage the participation of startups and MSMEs while protecting consumer interests at the same time.
“The regulatory sandbox (RS) refers to live testing of new products,
