Ringo has stated today that its low-cost high quality calling service has been locked in a tussle with Telcos in India, as it attempts to launch Internet Telephony in the country. Ringo claims that it (through its group company VMobi) has obtained the technology and licenses for the service over six months ago, but various telecom operators including Vodafone, Airtel and Idea have not been providing interconnections to VMobi that are critical for Ringo to launch its services.
Unrestricted Internet Telephony is a progressive service that has been allowed in India since 2008, and can reduce cost of telephony to one third or even lower. In addition, it offers massive benefits to the end consumer such as simultaneous data transmission, HD voice, video calls as well as the ability to make calls over WiFi connections in bad signal areas. Ringo’s new call flow makes use of the Internet or the phone’s data connection to allow a user to make calls to anyone anywhere in the country over regular Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) lines, adds the statement of Ringo.
Bhavin Turakhia, Founder and CEO, Ringo, said “Internet telephony is the way forward for voice services. However in spite of having been permitted since 2008, the Indian consumer has not been able to enjoy the benefits of Internet Telephony because Telecom players like Vodafone, Airtel and Idea have neither launched Internet Telephony, nor permitted other operators to launch the same. By failing to provide us with a non-discriminatory Interconnection agreement, or with the mandatory points of interconnect, these companies are making it incredibly difficult for us to do business and for the Indian consumer to ever experience a truly digital India, where low cost calling and innovations like HD voice and simultaneous data transmission through Internet Telephony is a reality.”
Over the past six months, VMobi has been in constant touch with Indian operators seeking interconnections. However, these players have made repeated attempts to restrict the company’s scope of service and to prevent the launch of Internet Telephony, by including restrictive clauses in the agreements that VMobi has attempted to sign with them, as stated further by Ringo.
VMobi has further made attempts to contact TRAI to request assistance in obtaining an interconnection point and a non-discriminatory Interconnection agreement for both NLDO and Access services, on similar lines to those provided to other services providers. “TRAI has been patient and progressive and we strongly believe that they will do the right thing for the progress of Internet Telephony in India” added Turakhia.
Disclaimer – This is the version of Ringo and if any telecom operator has to comment on this, they can contact us and we will publish the same.
