Trai seeks opinion of stakeholders on internet telephony

The telecom regulator sought opinion of stakeholders on issues like entry fee, call termination charges and allocation of numbering resources

With apps like Whatsapp, Skype and Viber gaining popularity for calling, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Wednesday came out with a consultation paper on internet telephony, seeking opinions of stakeholders on issues such as entry fee, call-termination charges and allocation of numbering resources.

Trai said the paper ‘Internet Telephony (VoIP)’ is issued to identify issues in providing internet telephony services and address them in a holistic manner.

“Some important issues are allocation of telephone numbers, interconnection, interconnection usage charges, quality of service and access to emergency (number),” Trai said in a statement.

The telecom service providers (TSP) have long been asking the regulator to bring the internet telephony service providers or the over-the-top (OTT) players under the ambit of the law.

The TSPs demand there should be a level-playing field between themselves and OTT apps which ride on the network of telcos but offer cheaper rates as they do not have to pay any of the regulatory levies.

Asked to comment on the paper, COAI Director General Rajan Mathews said, “We are very pleased that Trai has raised this issue of internet telephony and come out with a discussion paper. We believe that this needs to be addressed urgently and we are pleased that Trai has raised the matter, and asked the appropriate questions and issues and we look forward to provide our responses.”

The questions asked in the paper include — what should be the additional entry fee, performance bank guarantee, and financial bank guarantee for internet service providers if they are also allowed to provide unrestricted internet telephony?

What should be the termination charge when call is terminating into internet telephony network and how to ensure that users of international internet telephony calls pay application international termination charges.

The paper also asks about termination charges that should be levied on calls originated from Internet telephony network and terminated into wire-line and wireless network.

The consultation paper asked: “Whether accessing the telecom services of a TSP by the subscriber through public Internet can be construed as extension of fixed line or mobile services of the TSP?”

Trai has asked the stakeholders to furnish their comments by July 21 and counter comments by August 4.