Trai moots clarity in definition of ‘other service providers’

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has suggested exempting certain categories like data/internet based and captive contact centres from detailed registration, retaining it for voice-based outsourced other service providers (OSPS), in a set of recommendations that the regulator said will make India a “preferred BPO destination” and drive sector growth.

“Clarity in definition of OSP has been brought. Only voice based, outsourced OSP need to have registration at par with existing process. Data/internet based OSP would need to furnish intimation only,” the telecom sector regulator said in a statement.

Notably, though, Trai has recommended that Contact Centre Service Provider (CCSP)/ Hosted Contact Centre Service Provider (HCCSP) involved in reselling of telecom resources, say bandwidth, would require a Virtual Network Operator or VNO license.

When contacted, Nasscom's Senior Vice President, Sangeeta Gupta told PTI that while Trai's suggestions to the government offer clarity on many of the challenges facing the industry, the association will await more details to see what the recommendations mean for CCSPS or HCCSPS, in particular, in terms of additional compliance burden, if any.

Meanwhile, a Trai statement said that: "The CCSPS/HCCSPS who provide only the platform as service including a combination of the components of EPABX, IVR, call handling/administration, call recording, contact centre data analytics, customer relationship management... for contact centres, should be required to get registered with DOT." These players "should be Indian company, having their data centres in India for providing the contact centre platform to OSPS", the regulator said. Trai recommendations also prescribe various penalty for violation in terms and conditions. The CCSP/ HCCSP involved in reselling of telecom resources would require VNO license, the statement added.

CCSP/HCCSP should be given 3 months' time to get themselves necessary registration / license after declaration of the policy by Department of Telecom, the statement released by Trai said. The regulator has also recommended additional clarity in definition of OSP players.