DoT likely to offer unlimited calls Via Internet
The Department of Telecom (DoT) is mulling over opening up the Internet telephony segment and allowing unrestricted calls by consumers using their Internet connections, revealed a source. As per senior officials in the Department, this may be included in the New Telecom Policy expected to be finalised by November.
A top DoT official said, "We have received representations from the industry and from within the DoT to open up Net telephony. We are seriously looking at how to go about it."
The issue was also discussed at a July 13 meeting with Indian Telecom Services officers. If unrestricted Net telephony is allowed, it will enable players such as the Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Infotel, which recently bought broadband wireless access spectrum, to offer voice services along with data. Reliance Infotel had bought the spectrum on an ISP licence. Under existing rules, only operators with unified access services licence are allowed to offer unrestricted.
Currently, Net telephony is allowed only for computer-to-computer or international calls. Operators with unified access licence are allowed to offer domestic calls also but so far no one has launched it.
If the DoT opens up the Net telephony sector, then all the operators, including ISPs, will be able to offer the service on any device with which one can access the Internet. It may be a PC or a laptop with a headset, a Web-enabled mobile phone such as smart phone or one with GPRS or 3G connectivity. To access the service, subscribers need just buy a Net phone package from a service provider and download a dialler software on the device. With this software, consumers will be able to call other Net phone subscribers, a cellular phone user or a fixed-line telephone user anywhere in the country.
If one does not want to invest in a PC or an Internet-enabled mobile phone, one can also use a normal fixed-line telephone to make calls over the Internet. In this case too, subscribers will have to buy a pre-paid Net telephony card which works just like the long-distance calling cards currently available in the market.
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