Telcos can use any internet connection for internet telephony, says TRAI

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has clarified that telecom operators can use any internet connection and not just their own network, for internet telephony, according to a report by Business Standard.

The move is expected to further bring down voice calling charges.

The clarification by the telecom regulator also allows telecom companies, which have access service licence or unified licence, to offer VoIP (voice over IP) calls using any internet connection to its customers.

Customers enabled with internet telephony can make phone calls to any phone number in the country using internet at one-third the current calling rates. WiFi can also be used to make phone calls in areas with poor network.

VoIP calls can be made to all mobile and landline numbers at the existing interconnect charges. The current interconnect charges are 6 paisa for wireless calls while landline calls are free.

The move is likely to help customers as all call charges are expected to come down to 6-8 paisa per minute as the calls will be made using the internet connection which have negligible costs.

Customers can make these calls using their current number and are not required to take a new number for internet telephony.

While internet telephony was allowed in India since 2008, telecom companies did not launch the service as they were competing with their voice business.

Last year, the regulator had come up with a consultation paper to understand failure of the service and try and clarify internet telephony norms for telecom companies.