TRAI Moves to Open VoIP Services
Techtree News Staff, May 14, 2008 1650 hrs IST
Existing laws do not permit ISPs to offer VoIP services to landlines and mobile phones within the country.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has finally taken notice of the country's Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who for long now have been demanding opening up of Internet telephony so that they can go head-to-head with telecom service providers -- at least on the long-distance services front.
The regulator on Monday issued a consultation paper seeking industry views on whether ISPs should be permitted Internet telephony (voice over Internet protocol or VoIP) services to fixed-line and mobile phone connections within the country.
The country's existing laws do not permit ISPs to offer VoIP services to landlines and mobile phones. By contrast, all telecom service providers including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar are allowed to offer VoIP services -- even to fixed-line and mobile phone connections. While all telcos are permitted full Internet telephony services, it's only state-owned MTNL (Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited) that has succeeded in offering these services in two metros of the country, namely Mumbai and Delhi.
ISPs are of the view that a majority of telcos have failed to implement Internet telephony services because they fear these would eat into their revenues. They argue that as opposed to existing laws, if they were indeed allowed to launch full-fledged Internet telephony services, they would be able to offer ISD at as low as Re 1 per minute, STD at less than 50 paise per minute, and local calls between just 10 and 15 paise per minute. Which happens to be a fraction of the cost offered by large telcos for similar services.
USER COMMENTS
Dear Sir, Can you please provide me VOIP services immediately in my Kolkata address? I need 3 to 4 phones but right now I need one. If it works good at my end, then I can assure you that I must place another order for next 2 to 3 more. Thanks & Regards, Manik Das 98314-34537 Kolkata ? 700029 West Bengal, INDIA
by Manik Das, Kolkata, on May 19, 2008 08:44 PM, Report abuse Reply
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FULL VoIP usage will eventually FREE per minutes charges on ISD/STD/Local as well because the entire communication network can be routed via INTERNET! This is what the telecoms fear as this might cut into their revenues. India needs to come out of this and allow even private telecoms/ISP to enter the VoIP market as doing so will prove to be a great boost to our country's IT sector. Surprisingly, Pakistan is a way ahead of India in its VoIP technology!!! Question:- Is it legal to have a US phone number in India for residential use? in other words, is using Broadband IP phone with a US number in India legal? if it is not, can you provide me with a link to TRAI's website which clearly mentions this.
by Sheetal, mumbai, on Jul 03, 2008 06:54 PM, Report abuse Reply