Vsnl Plans To Offer Net Voice Telephony Soon

If you cant beat em, join em. That seems to be Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltds new motto. A month after the internet service provider had threatened its members against using the net for voice telephony, it has now decided to offer the service.

The state-owned international telecom carrier has decided to offer internet voice telephony within the next five months, a highly placed source in VSNL revealed. Talks are already on with the department of telecommunications (DoT) regarding the fixing of charges for such services.

Once voice telephony is in place, VSNL also plans to offer fax, data connectivity and other value-added services via the internet, the source said.

 

VSNL is keen to grab a major chunk of the voice telephony market before private players enter this segment. Although TRAI has banned private players from offering voice telephony, the rules could be relaxed in future if a majority of private players so demand. This explains VSNLs hurry to make a headstart before the possibility of relaxing cyber laws is mooted.

Net subscription rate may be slashed

VSNL plans to further cut internet subscription charges for its TCP/IP (transfer control protocol/internet protocol) accounts by 10-15 per cent if the DoT accedes to a proposal to reduce annual rental charges for leased lines by 30 per cent.

The reduction in rental (or port) charges for a 2MB leased line is expected within a few months. A senior VSNL official told Business Standard, We are talking to DoT for a further reduction in tariff charges. He declined comment on whether revenues would be affected by the move.