Whatsapp free voice calling
COAI writes letter to TRAI over Whatsapp free voice calling services, will rest of the operators follow Airtel’s way ?
Recently, WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum had announced that it intends to launch voice calling services in the first quarter of 2015, which would be completely free.
With more than 600 million monthly active users, WhatsApp has already made a hole in telecom operator’s revenue.
With more than 600 million monthly active users, WhatsApp has already made a hole in telecom operator’s revenue.
“Hence, companies offering OTT voice services, without holding a telecom license in India, would essentially violate and circumvent Indian telecom licensing provisions and provide services that are otherwise only permitted under a telecom license,” Rajan S Mathews, Director General, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said to TRAI.
“Whatsapp has become a virtual network provider without any license and allied permissions bypassing number allocations, security norms, routing norms since it is using the Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDNs) for switching and interconnection,” said Mathews.
He further added, “Allowing the use of VoIP/ Internet telephony at such massive scale without licensing regime would lead to a significant disruption in the existing business of Telecom Service Providers and can substantially derail their investment capability.”
He further added, “Allowing the use of VoIP/ Internet telephony at such massive scale without licensing regime would lead to a significant disruption in the existing business of Telecom Service Providers and can substantially derail their investment capability.”
The service currently has more than 600 million monthly active users in India,which is almost double the subscribers of Hike which comes at distant second position.
The TSPs are already suffering because of such VoIPs as free messaging and calls has become a norm of the day. He further added, Such a situation would jeopardise the national objective of affordable and ubiquitous telephony and broadband access across the country. Further, such an arrangement would also constitute a significant loss of revenues for the exchequer. Lastly, Internet telephony is a licensed service permitted only under ISP or Unified License granted under the Indian Telegraph Act.
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