India now open to VoIP: TRAI enables Internet Telephony services
By ranjanp at 18 August, 2008, 12:54 pm
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- ISPs have been permitted to provide unrestricted Internet telephony (Termination of Internet telephony calls on PSTN/PLMN and vice-versa).
- National Long Distance (NLD) operators shall be permitted to connect to ISPs through public Internet (Internet cloud) for unrestricted Internet telephony.
- ISPs and NLD shall have mutual agreement for unrestricted Internet telephony.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has just paved the way for Internet Telephony in India. The TRAI is a regulatory body established under the TRAI Act of 1997. It’s primrary objective is to create and nurture conditions for growth of telecommunications in the country in a manner and at a pace which will enable India to play a leading role in emerging global information society.
Voice of internet services have been growing worlwide at a rapid pace. According to Juniper Research, revenues from VoIP services in the business sector alone will reach USD 18 billion by 2010, with hosted VoIP business revenues reaching USD 7.6 billion.
The TRAI recommendations for opening up VOIP services in India are a step forward towards developing a regulatory environment, encouraging technological advancements, enabling convergence and boosting broadband penetration.
Customers will ultimately benefit from cost effective Internet Telephony services. The business model of ISPs will improve without impacting access providers due to increase in the telephony call volumes.
The TRAI’s recommendations are as follows
- ISPs have been permitted to provide unrestricted Internet telephony (Termination of Internet telephony calls on PSTN/PLMN and vice-versa).
- National Long Distance (NLD) operators shall be permitted to connect to ISPs through public Internet (Internet cloud) for unrestricted Internet telephony.
- ISPs and NLD shall have mutual agreement for unrestricted Internet telephony.
- NLD shall make suitable commercial and technical arrangements with access providers (PSTN/PLMN) for unrestricted Internet telephony.
- No change in existing IUC regime.
- TEC shall identify distinct number resources for Internet Telephony subscribers.
- Telephone numbers from identified blocks shall be allocated to ISPs, UASPs, BSOs & CMSPs for Internet telephony.
- Emergency number dialing is not mandated to ISPs.
- All ISPs interested to provide unrestricted Internet telephony shall install Lawful Interception equipment.
- Quality of service (QoS) for unrestricted telephony has not been mandated.
