Trai rejects operators' plea on ISPs

Rejecting the plea of telecom operators that the regulator was not providing a “level playing field” between them and internet service providers (ISPs) in offering internet telephony services, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) upheld its recommendation that the two categories could not be compared.

Trai was responding to a query by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on whether there was a level playing field between the two regarding internet telephony services.

Internet telephony refers to use of public internet to transmit voice.

In April 2002, ISPs were allowed to offer internet telephony in India. However, it was done in a restricted manner, where it could not be used to connect with regular telephones, wireline or wireless.

In 2007, this policy was modified and ISPs were allowed to offer internet telephony to even regular telecom subscribers overseas. But the restriction on local numbers remains.

While clarifying the queries raised by the DoT regarding the recommendations given by the regulator, Trai said, “Any direct comparison of access service providers and ISPs, due to vast difference in privileges, services, and resources given to them under their respective licences, does not seem to be desirable.”