Item 14 on today's Cabinet agenda requested approval for Ogero to provide content delivery services that fall under "Over the Top" (OTT) services to its subscribers, particularly for television content, in partnership with licensed content providers. Despite a clear and direct consultation from the Legislative and Consultative Authority in July 2023 rejecting Ogero's provision of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services due to multiple legal violations raised by Communications Minister Johnny Qarm, item 14 was included in the Cabinet meeting agenda to provide the same service by Ogero, rebranded as "television broadcast content" (OTT) in an attempt to circumvent the opinion of the Legislative and Consultative Authority.
The request is based on a new consultation that took a "military course," as the Communications Minister sent a letter on October 24 to the Legislative and Consultative Authority requesting an opinion on Ogero offering Internet television services in partnership with the private sector. The consultation was issued with extensive legal details just two days later on October 26, approved by the General Director of the Ministry of Justice the following day, Friday, October 27, and after the weekend, it was sent to the Ministry of Communications on Monday, October 30, to be placed on the agenda for that same Cabinet meeting.
