The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has stated that it does not plan to regulate over-the-top (OTT) communication services like WhatsApp and Telegram. Officials clarified that the new Telecommunications Act does not classify these apps under its definition of telecommunications. This announcement comes as telecom companies push for OTT apps to be regulated under the same rules as traditional telecom services, arguing for a “same-service, same-rule” approach. However, OTT providers maintain that they are already regulated under the Information Technology Act. The DoT’s position suggests that the current definition of “telecommunication” primarily applies to licensed telecom operators, and not OTT services, as these involve data packet transmission rather than network-based switching. The government is still considering how to address security concerns related to OTT apps, with the Ministry of Electronics and IT potentially regulating them under the Digital India Act or another relevant law.