Telecommunications providers in Singapore must give mobile consumers access to web content and apps. The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) made the declaration after the CEO of SingTel asked regulators to allow operators to charge over-the-top (OTT) service providers for the use of their networks. The IDA will be closely monitoring developments in the OTT market and track discussions between operators and OTT players, ZDNet reports citing an IDA spokesperson. IDA currently assumes the position that consumers should have access to all legitimate internet content and applications. Service providers may not block or impose restrictions to make certain legal web content inaccessible or unusable. Traffic management practices are also not allowed.
SingTel CEO Chua Sock Koong has reportedly said that investments by mobile operators could be reduced significantly if they are not allowed to start charging OTT players for the use of their networks. The comments triggered a consumer backlash, prompting SingTel to post a statement on its Facebook page to clarify it would not charge consumers for the use of OTT services.
