There are different types of over-the-top (OTT) voice and messaging platforms currently in use, as well as different business models followed by providers to monetise the activity. In general terms, OTT voice and messaging services and applications are used to communicate (send and receive digital sound, text, images) in real-time over the internet.

This Global Trends benchmark focuses on OTT voice and text services and apps that are used for interpersonal communications (P2P) from three different angles:
 

• Definitions and impact assessments on the telecommunications sector, if any, of interpersonal OTT voice and messaging services and apps by national authorities.
• Key regulatory requirements: licensing, establishment of in-country legal presence, inter-operability requirements.
• Law enforcement framework: obligations on OTT providers to verify the real identity of service/app end users, to collect user metadata, and to support law enforcement authorities in accessing the content of P2P communications.

The Cullen International Global Trends benchmark on OTT voice and messaging platforms covers 14 jurisdictions around the world:
Australia, Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkiye and the United States.

For more information and to access the benchmark, please click on “Access the full content” - or on “Request Access”, in case you are not subscribed to our Global Trends service.