A new regulatory framework for Over-The-Top (OTT) services has been proposed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which suggests a 15-year license for these services in Pakistan.
The public and interested parties may comment on the draft framework for the next fourteen days after it was posted on the PTA website.The draft framework defines over-the-top (OTT) services as any applications or services that are made available over the Internet, with or without network provider participation. Examples include social networks like Facebook, messaging apps like WhatsApp, streaming services like YouTube and Netflix, and tools for video conferences like Zoom.
According to PTA’s draft framework, OTT services fall into three categories:
OTT Communication Services (OCS), which are internet-based real-time voice, video, and messaging services like ARY NEWS, WhatsApp, and Zoom; OTT Application Services (OAS), which are similar to traditional telecom services but do not replace them; these include social networking, e-commerce, e-health, e-education, and navigation apps like Google Maps; and OTT Media Services (OMS), which are streaming audio and video. These are further divided into two categories: Broadcasting OTT Media Services, which are governed by PEMRA and include PTV and ARY NEWS, and Non-Broadcasting OTT Media Services, which are services like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify.
The draft states that PTA will be in charge of registering and approving OTT services, with the exception of broadcasting media services, which PEMRA will oversee. The PTA and other pertinent governmental organizations will be involved in content monitoring and removal. In order to provide OTT communication services, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) need to get permission from the PTA. As an alternative, OTT service providers can directly apply for a 15-year permit to operate in Pakistan. With the use of this framework, the nation’s OTT service development and administration will be supported by a regulatory framework.
