Airtel Africa CEO Christian de Faria urged regulators to impose rules on over-the-top (OTT) companies that offer services and generate profit from infrastructure operated by mobile network players.

Airtel Africa released a statement today which cited comments made by de Faria, who spoke at the 2015 ITU Global Symposium for regulators in Gabon, about the need for regulators to create a structure that was fair and equal for all providers. The event brings global telecoms leaders and regulators together.

In a number of comments, de Faria spoke out about OTT players that use operator platforms, so cannibalising mobile revenues by “riding on operator infrastructure and investment”.

He said: “(OTT players) are not subject to the same taxes and regulation regimes as operators. We expect the regulators to help.”

The Airtel Africa chief added that OTT regulation should even cover licensing, spectrum, security and revenues in the future.

Regulators in attendance at the event responded by claiming there needed to be a unified approach towards the issue across the world to establish a tariff framework, arguing that “no single country or regulatory entity can solve the issue on its own”, according to Airtel Africa’s statement.

de Faria conceded that network operators needed OTT businesses to reach a wider market, and said the telco sector had to adapt their business models to accommodate OTT players.

“We don’t want to block them, but regulators need to ensure a level playing field for all,” he said. “Ultimately, mobile network operators are seeking a win-win solution in which customers can benefit socio-economically from mobile connectivity.”