Bharti Airtel drops plan to charge extra for VoIP calls

A few days after announcing it would charge its customers extra if they make calls on Skype, Line, Viber and other apps using their mobile data packs, Bharti Airtel Monday said it has decided against the proposed launch of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) packs.

"In view of the news reports that a consultation paper will be issued shortly by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) on issues relating to services offered by over-the-top (OTT) players including VoIP, we have decided not to implement our proposed launch of VoIP packs," the company said in a statement.

Bharti Airtel's decision to charge its customers extra sparked debates and criticisms across the spectrum.

"We have no doubt that as a result of the consultation process a balanced outcome would emerge that would not only protect the interests of all stakeholders and viability of this important sector but would also encourage much needed investments in spectrum and roll out of data networks to fulfill the objective of Digital India," it said.

The telecom service provider Dec 26 even announced that it will roll out VoIP specific data plans soon.

Reacting to Airtel's decision of charging its customers extra for VoIP usage, Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad last week said the government will look into it and will come back with structured response.