Re: Airtel wants to pierce net neutrality, charges more for VoIP

Is anyone aware of any organised response / reaction to this issue? The
line silence is deafening

On Thu, Dec 25, 2014 at 10:51 PM, Srini RamaKrishnan <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Airtel to charge up to 16 times* the standard data rate for using
> Skype and other VoIP services
>
> Airtel seems to be implying that this move has TRAI sanction.
>
> *per rate mentioned in other newspapers
>
> --
>
> Airtel wants you to pay extra for using Skype, Viber, more
>
> If you use services like Skype or Viber to make calls over Airtel's
> mobile data network, be prepared to pay extra. Yes, we know you
> already pay Airtel for for that data. Doesn't matter. Airtel has added
> this line to the terms and conditions of its 2G and 3G data plans:
> "All Internet/data packs or plans (through which customer can avail
> discounted rate) shall only be valid for internet browsing and will
> exclude VoIP (Both incoming/ Outgoing). VoIP over data connectivity
> would be charged at standard data rates of 4p / 10 KB (3G service) and
> 10p / 10 KB (2G service)."
>
> VoIP, or Voice over IP, simply means voice data that is tranferred
> over the internet. The next time you're shooting the breeze on Viber,
> Skype or Google Hangouts on your phone, keep in mind that Airtel will
> charge you you even if you're already paying for that data.
>
> Airtel's move flies in the face of net neutrality, which is a hot
> topic round the globe. In the United States, for instance, there is a
> proposal to provide "fast lanes" for data intensive video-streaming
> services like Netflix and Hulu. Simply put, internet services
> providers want to charge these companies extra for carrying their bits
> to the consumer, even though the consumers are already paying the
> service providers for internet access in the first place. Last month,
> President Barack Obama came out strongly in support of net neutrality
> by saying that "a free and open internet was as critical to Americans'
> lives as electricity and telephone service and should be regulated
> like those utilities to protect consumers."
>
> The timing of this move isn't surprising. Whatsapp, which has wiped
> off a large part of SMS revenues for mobile service providers in
> India, has long been rumoured to introduce voice-calling over data.
> Indians already pay some of the lowest rates in the world for voice
> calls and carriers like Airtel are afraid that once people start using
> data to make voice calls, these revenues will be wiped out as well.
>
> Indeed, in August, the Telecom Regulation Authority of India (TRAI)
> had quashed a proposal from Indian telecom companies to charge
> over-the-top players like Whatsapp and Viber extra "connectivity
> charges." TRAI stated that telcos could make up for the lost revenue
> with the increase in mobile data usage.
>
> In a statement to Hindustan Times, an Airtel spokesperson said: "We
> have made some revisions in the composition of our data packs, and
> will offer VoIP (Voice over internet protocol) connectivity through an
> independent pack that will be launched shortly. Our customers can
> continue enjoying voice calls over data connectivity by opting for
> this VoIP pack, or simply use VoIP services on pay-as-you-go basis."
>
> Which basically means this: unless you buy a seperate VoIP pack,
> you'll be charged extra for making calls using Skype, Viber and other
> services. If you don't think net neutrality is something to lose sleep
> over yet, think about this: If it's VoIP today, operators might start
> charging you extra to stream YouTube or use a music service like Saavn
> tomorrow. It is not immediately clear if other operators will follow
> Airtel's move.
>
> http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/1300013.aspx
> © Copyright © 2013 HT Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.
>
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