TRAI looks to set interconnect charges for VoIP

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has called for the Department of Telecom (DoT) to amend a clause of the Unified Licence framework in order to enable it to set interconnection rates for VoIP calls, the Economic Times writes, citing a senior TRAI official. At present, the licence refers to interconnection of networks carrying circuit-switched traffic and makes no provision for IP-based networks. The TRAI has the power to determine charges for interconnection, but is not authorised to alter licences, however, which remains the remit of the DoT. The official explained that the regulator needs to move to facilitate interconnection, as IP-based networks continue to proliferate whilst circuit-switched networks are gradually being phased out. The loophole could potentially give rise to operational and service quality issues, and complicate the process of migrating to IP-based networks, the TRAI warned.