GSMArena.com GSMArena.com

Tip us

1.5m
109k
RSS

EV

Merch

Log in

Login

I forgot my password
Sign up
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Featured
  • Phone Finder
  • Deals
  • MerchNew
  • Coverage
  • Contact
ADVERTISEMENTS

Bharti Airtel to charge for VoIP calls over 2G and 3G in India

  • Post your comment
  • Comments (119)

24 December, 2014

Airtel

India's leading cellphone carrier (and second-largest Asia Pacific carrier) will now be charging for voice calls made over its 2G or 3G network. This basically includes calls made using services such as Skype, Viber, and Google Hangouts, among others. The VoIP data will be charged separately and won't be part of your existing data pack.



Although there was no official announcement, the change in policy appears as a sneaky fine print on the company website that states "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)."

The timing for this change in policy isn't just random. WhatsApp is about to introduce voice calling feature very shortly. With WhatsApp already having replaced SMS in India almost entirely, carriers are afraid VoIP will soon replace regular calling, turning them into dumb data pipes.

This move is against the principles of Net Neutrality, which states all data should be treated equally. It remains to be seen if other carriers in India will join Airtel in this move, and what the TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has to say about this.

Source

Related articles
  • Airtel becomes the first carrier in India to test a 5G network, is holding off the launch Airtel becomes the first carrier in India to test a 5G network, is holding off the launch
  • PSA: Don’t install OnePlus 2’s Oxygen OS 3.5.5 OTA PSA: Don’t install OnePlus 2’s Oxygen OS 3.5.5 OTA

Reader comments

s
  • shantanu
  • t1$
  • 07 Jan 2015

Next thing will be charged for media sending across whatsapp, hike etc

  • Reply
D
  • AnonD-254269
  • X0{
  • 02 Jan 2015

Airtel, idea and vodefone are day light robbers.

  • Reply
D
  • AnonD-254269
  • X0{
  • 02 Jan 2015

Being frank it is day light robbery, and data packs with FUP in the name of unlimited with heavy data tariffs is another cheating with 15,26, 28 days validity and the same suit is followed by idea and Vodafone.

  • Reply
  • Read all comments
  • Post your comment
Total reader comments: 119

ADVERTISEMENTS

Phone finder

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Huawei
  • Nokia
  • Sony
  • LG
  • HTC
  • Motorola
  • Lenovo
  • Xiaomi
  • Google
  • Honor
  • Oppo
  • Realme
  • OnePlus
  • vivo
  • Meizu
  • BlackBerry
  • Asus
  • Alcatel
  • ZTE
  • Microsoft
  • Vodafone
  • Energizer
  • Cat
  • Sharp
  • Micromax
  • Infinix
  • TCL
  • Ulefone
  • Tecno
  • BLU
  • Blackview
  • Acer
  • Panasonic
  • Plum

All brands Rumor mill

ADVERTISEMENTS

Top 10 by daily interest

  Device Daily hits  
1.Nothing phone (1)36,134
2.Xiaomi Poco F426,049
3.Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G21,279
4.Samsung Galaxy A53 5G19,002
5.Xiaomi Redmi Note 1116,490
6.Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max16,130
7.Xiaomi Poco X4 GT15,868
8.Samsung Galaxy A1314,564
9.Xiaomi 12S Ultra12,897
10.Apple iPhone XR12,615

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N spotted testing at Nurburgring Hyundai Ioniq 5 N spotted testing at Nurburgring Toyota has run out of tax credits in the USChevrolet Silverado EV prototypes spotted testing in Detroit
ADVERTISEMENTS

Home News Reviews Compare Coverage Glossary FAQ RSS feed Youtube Facebook Twitter Instagram

© 2000-2022 GSMArena.com Mobile version Android app Tools Contact us Merch store Privacy Terms of use Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data