Even the term "Over The Top" is a meaningless invention. It is double-speak introduced by operators to describe any software on the internet which they feel has hurt their feelings.
My suggestion is that everybody refer to the OSI 7-layer model. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model. Layer 1 to 3 is the network, layer 4 to 7 is the applications on top of it. OTT as defined by the operators is a meaningless term because they make an arbitrary vertical slice through layers 4 to 7. Arguably "OTT" means everything on layer 4 to 7 but that would entail that the operators declare their dominion over all of the internet which is obviously crazy to everybody.
This is double-speak. The mobile network customer chooses to use general internet protocol (IP) applications. The client request general IP services and pays for the general IP services from the network. Whatsapp provides applications services which is exposed over IP which the customer consumes. Whatsapp has no interest in the physical network on the client side because that has nothing to do with Whatsapp --- it is something the client pays for. Whatsapp is responsible for their own physical infrastructure until the point of interconnection. That is how the internet works. The operators cannot selectively lay claim to Whatsapp but not to this forum (both IP services) because that contradicts what service they offer ("internet service"). But they don't lay any claims around forum messaging only Whatsapp and to make sure it does not sound absurd (which it is) they use a made up term (Over The Top) to try and somehow semantically differentiate Whatsapp from other internet services (like online forums). But note the customer pays for the IP service and that is where the investment must come from. The customers, in general, don't even pay whatsapp. If networks need more money to build networks then they need to charge the customer more for general IP services - but they can't because of competition. So "Over The Top" is really just a way for networks to try and dodge head-to-head fair competition with other network operators.
This only makes sense by abusing the semantics offered by double-speak. The mobile network remains the operators (layer 1 to 3) and they must provide the interception capability. Asking that IP applications (layer 4 to 7) implement interception capability is ridiculous - you cannot expect every application, every web-site, every web-service, every IP service to implement interception capability. That is like saying if you connect a printer to a router to the internet that you must also implement specific RICA interception capabilities at home! No - it is the ISP's responsibility!
My suggestion is that everybody refer to the OSI 7-layer model. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model. Layer 1 to 3 is the network, layer 4 to 7 is the applications on top of it. OTT as defined by the operators is a meaningless term because they make an arbitrary vertical slice through layers 4 to 7. Arguably "OTT" means everything on layer 4 to 7 but that would entail that the operators declare their dominion over all of the internet which is obviously crazy to everybody.
This is double-speak. The mobile network customer chooses to use general internet protocol (IP) applications. The client request general IP services and pays for the general IP services from the network. Whatsapp provides applications services which is exposed over IP which the customer consumes. Whatsapp has no interest in the physical network on the client side because that has nothing to do with Whatsapp --- it is something the client pays for. Whatsapp is responsible for their own physical infrastructure until the point of interconnection. That is how the internet works. The operators cannot selectively lay claim to Whatsapp but not to this forum (both IP services) because that contradicts what service they offer ("internet service"). But they don't lay any claims around forum messaging only Whatsapp and to make sure it does not sound absurd (which it is) they use a made up term (Over The Top) to try and somehow semantically differentiate Whatsapp from other internet services (like online forums). But note the customer pays for the IP service and that is where the investment must come from. The customers, in general, don't even pay whatsapp. If networks need more money to build networks then they need to charge the customer more for general IP services - but they can't because of competition. So "Over The Top" is really just a way for networks to try and dodge head-to-head fair competition with other network operators.
This only makes sense by abusing the semantics offered by double-speak. The mobile network remains the operators (layer 1 to 3) and they must provide the interception capability. Asking that IP applications (layer 4 to 7) implement interception capability is ridiculous - you cannot expect every application, every web-site, every web-service, every IP service to implement interception capability. That is like saying if you connect a printer to a router to the internet that you must also implement specific RICA interception capabilities at home! No - it is the ISP's responsibility!
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