Avoiding the usual way of call your friends through voice calls and instead going through cheaper or almost free VoIP based services like Skype, Viber, Google Hangout etc. India’s top telecom operator Airtel has started charging its 3G and 2G customers with standard data rates for all VoIP based calling, even if you have an active mobile internet data pack.
“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 rate.” says the new terms & conditions on airtel official website.
According to the new data policy, every voice calls made through VoIP services like Skype, Viber, Google Hangout, Line and other will be charged separately from your active mobile internet data packs. Customers will be charged at standard data rates of 4 pasia per 10 KB on 3G network and 10 pasia per 10 KB on 2G network.
Airtel is no strange to this type of moves,as the carrier along with other Indian telecom operators plead for charging connectivity fee on WhatsApp, viber and other similar services, as this services where eating into their SMS revenues. But as a relief Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) quashed that move and was of the opinion that revenue drop can be made up with the increase in the mobile data usage.