iWorld
MIB secy Sinha, Viacom18 CEO Vats to speak at CASBAA convention in Nov
MUMBAI: Regional multichannel TV and digital video trade body CASBAA has announced the key themes (and workshop programme) for the CASBAA Convention 2017 to be held in Macau, from 6-8 November.
The line-up for the convention has been designed “to capture the urgent issues facing our industry at a time of the most dynamic market changes seen in more than 20 years,” said CASBAA CEO Christopher Slaughter.
CASBAA represents 100 corporations across 20 markets in the Asia-Pacific, from China to Australasia, Japan to Pakistan and encompassing over 623 million Pay-TV subscribers and 2.5 billion broadband connections (source: MPA).
The full implications of the digital video revolution are at the top of the convention’s agenda, including solutions to the potentially devastating impact of digital piracy, the on-going opportunities presented by local, regional and global OTT platforms and the challenges arising from the mountains of detailed digital data now being assessed by broadcasters, carriers, technology vendors and advertisers alike.
“The blue-chip list of Pay-TV operators, content creators, broadband carriers, investors, sponsors and regulators attending the convention guarantee unrivalled access to the Asia Pacific Pay-TV and Digital Video decision makers,” said Slaughter.
In the meantime, through a series of ‘Masterclass’ panels and presentations, the convention programme will deliver:
– Real-time case studies focused on the crucial battle against on-line piracy, including a few “Wins!”
– A fresh look at the best performing business models for Pay-TV
– Deep-dive presentations on the vital security technologies and regulatory “fixes” under debate across Asia Pacific and around the world
– Close examinations of the new ecosystems and revenue streams now available for the monetisation of emerging digital video markets
– New insights on the impact of soon to be launched broadband satellite services across Asia
Plus Understanding the Viewer: a series of closely moderated conference sessions shedding fresh light on the complex worlds of digital media and programmatic advertising.
The key speakers at the convention include:
– Samuel Scott, Columnist, The Promotion Fix @ The Drum
– Hosi Simon, Global General Manager, VICE Media
– NK Sinha, Secretary, MIB, Government of India
– Dr Ros Lynch, Director, Copyright & IP Enforcement, UK Intellectual Property Office
– Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO, Viacom18
– Birathon Kasemsri Na Ayudhaya, Chief Content and Media Officer, True Corporation
– Jeremy Butteriss, Managing Director for Global Partnerships, APAC, Google
iWorld
Telcos push for unified rules as spam shifts to OTT platforms
Over 80 per cent fraud moves online, operators seek common framework.
MUMBAI: The spam may have left your phone network but it hasn’t left you alone. India’s telecom operators are once again dialling up the pressure for a unified regulatory framework, warning that fraud is rapidly migrating to internet-based platforms where oversight remains far looser. According to industry communication, a leading operator has written to multiple arms of the government including the Department of Telecommunications, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Finance arguing that tighter controls on traditional telecom networks are inadvertently pushing bad actors towards over-the-top (OTT) communication platforms.
The concern is not new, but the framing has sharpened. What was once an industry grievance is now being positioned as a consumer protection issue. Operators say that tackling spam in silos no longer works, as fraudsters seamlessly shift across platforms, exploiting regulatory gaps. The result: a moving target that traditional safeguards struggle to contain.
Executives point to a clear shift in fraud patterns. OTT platforms are increasingly being used for phishing links, impersonation scams and bulk unsolicited messaging, with industry estimates suggesting that over 80 per cent of spam activity has now migrated online. In this environment, the lines between telecom networks, messaging apps and financial fraud are blurring fast.
At the heart of the industry’s demand is a call for a technology-neutral regulatory framework, one that applies consistently across telecom and internet-based communication services. Operators argue that the absence of uniform safeguards, such as sender verification systems, robust spam filters and clearly defined accountability mechanisms, has created enforcement blind spots that fraudsters are quick to exploit.
The proposal is straightforward but far-reaching. Telcos are pushing for baseline anti-fraud measures across all communication platforms, alongside faster response systems and deeper coordination between ministries. Given the interconnected nature of telecom networks, digital platforms and financial systems, they argue that fragmented oversight only weakens the overall defence.
The broader issue is regulatory arbitrage, the ability of bad actors to hop between platforms based on which is least regulated at any given time. Without harmonised rules, operators say, efforts to curb fraud risk becoming a game of whack-a-mole.
As digital communication continues to expand, the debate is shifting from who regulates what to how consistently it is regulated. For now, telecom operators are making their case clear: in a world where spam travels freely, regulation cannot afford to stay fragmented.
