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India’s Telecommunications department is considering to open up Voip services to mobile operators, thus allowing people to make free calls over the web.
This may be finalized in the new Telecom Policy which is expected to be finalised by November 2011. Dot has received representations from the industry to open up Net telephony and according to sources is seriously looking at how to do it.
If allowed, this will open up India’s domestic mobile market to all operators such as Reliance Infotel, Aircel and Videocon Telecommunication to offer voice services along with data to public.
In past DoT had rejected similar proposals allowing unrestricted VOIP to all operators including Internet Service Providers (ISPs) without any additional entry fee or licence charges. However, now DoT is reviewing the entire Indian telecom policy and is rethinking on this proposal.
Additionally, it may also allow operators like broadband and Internet companies like Google and Skype to offer VOIP services for international calling and domestic PC-to-PC calls, which could signal the arrival of Google Voice and similar services in India.
Although stance the Indian government will take against these companies is not clear as in past they have a history of pushing the likes of Google and RIM to provide state access to data from Gmail and BlackBerry services respectively.
