Objectives of the Commonwealth study

The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) conducted a study in 2018 to understand the market dynamics and policy and regulatory issues of Over-The-Top (OTT) services, both in the context of their impact on traditional business models and of opportunities for innovation and stimulating economic growth. According to a number of sources, Over-The-Top (OTT) refers to applications and services, which are accessible over the Internet and ride on Operators’ networks offering Internet access services.

The main objective of this study was to develop, based on consultations with relevant stakeholders in a sample of representative jurisdictions, a better understanding of the dynamics of OTTs by service providers, policy makers, regulators, OTT service providers and consumers of OTT services. The expected output of the study will enable future deployment of OTT services to be conducted in a manner that addresses the priorities and concerns of all stakeholders to the benefit of consumers.

In 2020, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) in collaboration with Research ICT Solutions and Cenerva Limited built on the 2018 OTT report published by the CTO, this additional study analysed the market dynamics, policies and regulatory challenges and opportunities of OTTs.

The findings of the second study on Over-the-Top (OTT) services published in 2020  shows the majority of stakeholders continue to recognise and appreciate the innovative nature of OTT services within the internet value chain. Since the publication of the CTO’s first OTT Report in 2018, new OTT related developments and issues have emerged in the ICT policy and regulatory space. At the same time, OTT applications have become even more pervasive in enhancing digital communications and interactions. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has fast tracked the digitalisation of the way people work and live around the globe. There has been an increase in the use of OTT applications, such as Zoom, Skype, Messenger, WhatsApp and Netflix, for audio and video communications. OTT applications have also been used to digitalise business processes and teamwork.

CTO Over-The-Top (OTT) Services 2020 and 2018 Reports 

• Over The Top (OTT) Applications & the Internet Value Chain – Recommendations to Regulators, Policy Makers and Tax Authorities (2020)
  The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) in collaboration with Research ICT Solutions (RIS) and Cenerva Ltd is pleased to present this report. This Report builds on the 2018 OTT report published by the CTO which analysed the market dynamics, policies and regulatory challenges and opportunities of OTTs.
• Over-The-Top Services: Understanding the Challenges and Opportunities (2018)
  This report is the culmination of a two-year long comparative study on the policy and regulatory implications of the rise of Over-The-Top (OTT) services and applications. The comparative study is a fulfilment of a mandate given by the Commonwealth ICT Ministers Forum hosted in London in June 2016.

Additional literature

• “Understanding the dynamics of Over-The-Top (OTT) services”, A CTO background paper, October 2016.