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Last Updated: August 18, 2008 14:28 IST
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Monday allowed ISPs to offer unrestricted Internet telephony services, a move that will further boost competition in the domestic long distance segment and lower STD tariffs.
"It is envisaged that customers will ultimately benefit from cost effective and innovative Internet telephony service.
These recommendations will put Indian telecom sector in tune with global trends. The grey market tendencies shall be curtailed," Trai said.
As per the Trai recommendations, the STD service providers would be connected to ISPs through public Internet for the purpose and the two service providers would have mutual agreement for the same.
The move will permit calls from personal computers to fixed line and mobile phones. Currently, a voice call can travel between two computers but not from a mobile or a fixed phone. This is expected to open huge channels of revenues for Internet service providers.
The Telecom Engineering Centre, a technical arm of department of telecommunication, will work out the number plan for the ISPs to enable them to offer telephone services.
"Telephone numbers from identified blocks shall be allocated to ISPs, Unified Access Service Providers, Basic Service Providers and Cellular Mobile Service Providers for Internet telephony," Trai said.
With a view to make Internet telephony secure, Trai said, all ISPs interested to provide unrestricted Internet telephony would install 'Lawful Interception' equipment.
Presently, ISPs are not permitted to provide unrestricted Internet Telephony though they have IP-based infrastructure.
While access service providers are permitted to provide various services and applications to their subscribers under Universal Access Service License, the role of other licensees like NLD and ILD is limited to provide long distance services and ISPs are permitted for Internet access.
"Such regulatory restrictions discourage technological advancements and result in grey market activities to provide these services to common masses," the statement added.
Trai said due importance have been given for level playing to various service providers, interconnection mechanism, inter connect usage charges, numbering, lawful interception, emergency number dialling, interoperability, quality of service and others.
"Overall licensing framework has been protected while permitting unrestricted internet telephony to ISPs", Trai said.
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