RIL's Infotel seeks govt permission for voice call services

NEW DELHI: In a move that will intensify competition, RIL-owned Infotel Broadband Services has informed the Telecom Ministry that it is ready for trial runs of a technology that would enable voice calls service on its wireless broadband network.

Against expectations, Infotel Broadband Services (IBSL) did not apply for making bids for the spectrum auction, freed after cancellation of 122 telecom licences on the order of the Supreme Court.

The company has developed a technology in preparation of a unified licensing regime recommended by the regulator TRAI under which consumers will be able to get voice, messaging and video using a single device, the source said.

The company has already approached the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for allocation of number series to test its newly developed 'Voice over LTE(VoLTE) technology, official sources told PTI.

They said the VoLTE technology would enable IBSL to work seamlessly with the existing 2G, 3G, NLD and ILD networks. Termination and receiving of calls from these networks to the IBSL network would be possible through the VoLTE technology.

IBSL had won 20 Mhz of pan-India airwaves for providing wireless broadband services in 2010 for Rs 12,847.77 crore.

Telecom industry expert Satyen Gupta said "Voice over LTE promises to bring down the cost.