GSM oprtrs against TRAI's take on Internet telphony to ISPs

NEW DELHI: Private GSM mobile operators are up in arms against telecom regulator TRAI's recommendation to allow Internet telphony to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) saying this will lead to back door entry for voice telephone services.

"COAI disagrees with TRAI's recommendation to permit ISPs to offer Internet telephony, which will give them a backdoor entry to offer voice telephony," GSM mobile industry body Cellular Operators Association of India said in a statement here.

With this, ISPs would directly compete with the access providers creating a non-level playing field while paying only a fraction of their license fees.

TRAI had last week issued its recommendations on Internet services to the Department of Telecom.

COAI has urged TRAI to ensure that the scope of the ISP License is not enlarged at the cost of UASL/CMTS operators, COAI Director General T V Ramachandran said.

He said UASL/CMTS operators had paid high entry fees for the right to offer access/mobile services and Internet telephony.

Ramachandran also expressed hope that the Department would take into account the issue of level playing field while considering the TRAI recommendations and formulating the policy for ISPs.