Thread: Legality of VOIP

Hello Guys!
I want to understand the legality of using VOip in India now.
Originally VOIP telephony was banned,then VOIP calls to outside India were allowed ( PC to PSTN) outside India and since last years changes VOIP calling is allowed in India,but in what Form?
Is it legal to subscribe to any of the VOIP providers Like Callcentric,Teleblend,Skype ,Vonage etc?
Can I legally buy a US or UK telephone number for use in India?
Is termination of VOIP calls to PSTN in India now legal?
MTNL in India offers official VOIP services in India albeit only for internal calling on MTNL network and outside India.
Please direct me to some source where we can get Authentic information on this Subject.

cant say for certain, but im pretty sure that subscribing to VOIP services such as Skype is legal!

A press release from TRAI's website:

http://www.trai.gov.in/trai/upload/P...8aug08no70.pdf

While TRAI had recommended unrestricted internet telephony, the Govt. is yet to take a final decision or issue the enabling notification in this regard.
So as of now, VOIP calls to normal Indian PSTN/Mobile phones are still illegal in India.
And in the wake of the Mubmai massacre, they may not be legalised for a long time.

All telephone networks in India (BSNL, MTNL, Airtel, Reliance, etc.) will charge call termination charges. So even if you have VOIP, you will still be paying quite a bit.

a) First there is internet usage (unless you are on UL plan).
b) Secondly call termination charges could be as high as 50 p per minute.

BSNL provides one-India plan where all STD calls are charged at Re. 1 (Rs. 1.1236 incl tax) per minute.

In the name of Legal issues the govt is trying to ban the VOIP revolution, when almost entire world is getting benifited with it.
Sooner or later they will have to allow it in India also..

Govt has banned VOIP to protect large telcos and their profits

Skype is a VOIP service provider, it runs in many countries, no such problem.

The point-wise answer to the queries of OP,

Is it legal to subscribe to any of the VOIP providers Like Callcentric,Teleblend,Skype ,Vonage etc?
Yes, as long as no call terminates on Indian PSTN/Mob. no.

Can I legally buy a US or UK telephone number for use in India?
A US/UK no. can be used if the call terminates in VOIP, not if it terminates in Indian PSTN/Mobile phone

Is termination of VOIP calls to PSTN in India now legal?
No

MTNL in India offers official VOIP services in India albeit only for internal calling on MTNL network and outside India.
Correct

And we still await for the opening of full VOIP in India

Originally Posted by fdserty

Skype is a VOIP service provider, it runs in many countries, no such problem.

We are not talking about PC to PC calls, they are legal.

But call made to normal circuit switched networks