Pvt operators cry foul over BSNL new call service; PSU denies

Industry body COAI has alleged that BSNL's new app-based service for making calls is in violation to licence norms, but the telecom PSU has rebutted the charge.
Referring to media reports on the service, COAI said, "The development depicted by these media reports is completely shocking and surprising as this App is completely against all regulatory and licensing principles. This app violated licence conditions, breaches existing interconnect agreement, poses grave security risks and violates Numbering plan..."
The BSNL service allowing customers to make landline calls using mobile phone and vice-versa was launched by Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in presence of telecom secretary JS Deepak on March 17.

BSNL customers travelling abroad through the app will be able to connect their landlines through mobile and make calls through them without attracting heavy ISD charges.
BSNL had announced that it would launch the service on April 2. However, it is yet to start the Fixed Mobile Telephony service as it has not finalised tariffs for the new plan.
"There is no violation of rules from these services. This kind of reaction from industry is obvious because BSNL is revamping its offerings for customers and no one in industry has been able to such innovative services," BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Anupam Shrivastava said.

He said that the company has not operationalised the service because it is in process of finalising tariff plan.

"There is a turnaround at BSNL. We are gaining customers which is hitting private operators. We appreciate competition that is paving for innovative service for customers like FMT that we have launched," Shrivastava said.
COAI said that interconnect agreement between telecom
operators do not provide for internet telephony calls and such facility is a clear case of tampering with caller identification in such calls that can pose "grave security risks".
"The App based calling will immediately deprive other telecom service providers (TSPs), the legal and valid termination charge of 53 paisa from an international call," COAI said.

The industry body said that use of mobile or landline number series is not permitted for 'Internet Telephony'.
"Routing of such calls is not as per the licence or any instructions of DoT as it aims to convert the international roaming calls in to local calls. Even assuming that such calls are not internet telephony call, it cannot use the landline or mobile number in place of IP (Internet protocol) address," COAI said requesting BSNL to immediately stop the launch of this service.