The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is geared up to initiate a process that could see telcos follow the footsteps of OTT players such as WhatsApp and Skype, allowing users to make calls over the Internet, as per a Economic Times report.
The report further pointed out that Trai will roll out another consultation paper to determine whether telcos should provide Internet telephony services.
During Trai chairman RS Sharma’s interview with ET, he mentioned that it is difficult for TSPs to provide VoIP services but then there are other services that provide those services. He believes that it is a ‘situation of regulatory imbalance’.
In 2014, there was a huge debate over the long-term issue pertaining to net neutrality rules and regulations, when market leader Bharti Airtel decided to charge OTT services such as WhatsApp and Skype separately; however, large public outcry forced the telecom giants to withdraw it demand.
While Sharma has the intention to bring telcos at par with non-licensed OTT players, it will be a tricky affair as telcos are bound by a lot of regulations and fees.
However, if the plan to empower telcos with VoIP services falls in place, the regulatory imbalance will be greatly diminished, explained the Trai chief.
