Dubai: The messaging and VoIP (voice over internet) services are eating into telecom operators messaging and voice revenues globally as OTT (over the top) players are driving much higher levels of user engagement.
OTT players use telecom operator’s infrastructure without paying any fees.
“As networks become better and better, voice is going to migrate from a telco service to an internet service and Nimbuzz is going to benefit from this whole boom,” Vikas Saxena, CEO of Nimbuzz, told Gulf News.
He said that parts of VoIP services are blocked by telecom regulatory authorities in few countries. In UAE, the most popular service we have is peer-to-peer free voice call and it is not blocked.
“What is blocked is calling to a landline and mobile and we respect the laws. In many other countries, like in Qatar, it is not blocked. It is a mix in the region,” he said.
“We have been working with the regional regulators very closely. For this reason Skype is also open. The popularity of the peer-to-peer service is growing and more people are joining in,” he said.
Nigel Eastwood, CEO of New Call Telecom, said: “We will collaborate with the telco operators and assist them to help them in monetise in different ways. We are in talks with different operators in the region in order to create mutual benefits and value-added services for both the parties”.
Indian telecom regulators have asked VoIP players to stop the ability to make calls to landlines and mobiles within India from last week.
Skype said in a post on its web page that as of November 10, “if you are in India, calling from Skype to mobiles and landlines within India will unfortunately no longer be available but can make free Skype-to-Skype calls within India.”
“We are abiding by the Indian government rules. Users cannot start a VoIP call in India and terminate a call in India to landlines and mobiles but can call abroad,” Saxena said.
