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No tariff cut now as VOIP gets delayed Consumers awaiting an over 50% slash in telecom tariffs with the help of new technologies like VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol, are in for a setback with the government informing Parliament on Thursday that no final decision has been taken by the government so far on the issue of allowing VoIP.
VoIP helps to more than halve tariffs as it moves away from traditional costs and billing systems. Consumers are the main beneficiaries of such a regulatory shift. Taking into consideration the overwhelming consumer support for implementation of VoIP the telecom regulator, TRAI had made suo moto recommendations on issues related to Internet Telephony exactly 6 months ago on 18 August 2008.
While DoT had TRAI's recommendations it has chosen to stall its implementation as unleashing VoIP promises to rock the boat for existing telecom service providers.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament, has asked three questions relating to the implementation of VoIP and whether certain telecom companies are trying to delay the acceptance of the TRAI recommendations on VoIP.
The government in its response, accepted that representations have been made by the Association of Unified Service Providers of India (AUSPI) and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) in addition to Internet Service Providers Association of India While the first two associations oppose implementation of VoIP in its current form, the ISPAI has been pushing for Internet Telephony on grounds that significantly lower tariffs will benefit consumers, especially students. "Allowing VoIP would mean lower tariffs and faster Internet penetration", says Naresh Ajwani, member of the NRO Number Council.
No tariff cut now as VOIP gets delayed-India Business-Business-The Times of India
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