There is much confusion among stakeholders about the applicable policy on Internet Telephony in India - each stakeholder we've spoken with over the last couple of years has a different interpretation of the policy. Many companies provide Internet Telephony services - some through partnerships with telecom operators like BSNL and MTNL and primarily target international calling, others route the calls back to India through international exchanges. As the same time, we received a copy of a notification from our sources, with a list of foreign Internet Telephony Service Providers that have been banned in the country. Last month, MediaNama filed a Right To Information request with the Department of Telecom for the applicable policy on Internet Telephony/VoIP in India. According to the response, the policy is as follows: (i) Internet Access: Internet access means use of any device/technology/methodology to provide access to Internet, including IPTV and all content available without access restriction on Internet, including web hosting webcolocation but it does not include service provider's configured Closed User Group Services (VPN). The content for IPTV shall be regulated as per law in force from time to time. Permission to provide IPTV services shall be granted on application by licensee provided the licensee has net worth of Rs 100 crore or more. (ii) Internet Telephony: Internet Telephony mean a service to process and carry voice signals offered through Public Internet by the use of Personal Computers (PC) or IP based Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) connecting the following: a) Pc to PC,…
