Voice calling may get revolutionised with this TRAI proposed framework

Telecom regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), has proposed some regulations on working of internet telephony by February. This could bring a radical change in working of Indian telecom technology with major mobile app players like Whatsapp, IMO or Skype.

“Provision of Internet telephony has been in telecom licence, but it has not expanded in the country. Today, we discussed issues that are holding on to its expansion," TRAI's chairman, R S Sharma told reporters on the sidelines of an Open House Discussion on Internet telephony."We expect to finalise the recommendations on this paper by February," he added.

TRAI is in consultation since June so that internet telephony comes in competition of traditional telephony as these days use of internet telephony is on rise. Recently, TRAI has to intervene due to a dispute in private service providers and state run service provider viz. BSNL. The latter announced the launch of a mobile application to make local, STD and ISD through landline. However, the Cellular industry body, COAI, raised objection terming it violation of licence norms.

TRAI, however, suspect that it may face challenges as it is very likely that the service providers already have service for voice calling over PSTN (landline) or PLMN (mobile network) because they will not be ready to part with their higher share of margin service offerings.