NTC releases new rules on VOIP charges

The National Telecommunications Commission on Monday came out with new rules on Voice over Internet Protocol, a cheap alternative to traditional telephony which involves transmitting a person's voice over the Internet. The new NTC rules decreases the access charges imposed by fixed line and cellular phone operators to promote fair competition in the telecommunications industry. In a draft circular, the NTC said VoIP service providers requiring access to the public switched telephone network and cellular mobile telephone network shall enter into an interconnection or access arrangement with at least one of the duly enfranchised and authorized PSTN operator. "Such carrier/s shall then be responsible for routing of the VoIP traffic to and from the networks of the other operators and shall see to it that VoIP traffic routed to other operators are properly identified," NTC said. The NTC said VoIPSP should pay transit charges to PSTN not higher than P0.25 per minute. The regulator added that access charge for VoIP calls originating from or terminating to the PSTN should not be higher than P1.50 per minute. The regulator's additional guidelines for VoIP came on the heel after it received complaints from VoIP service providers (VoIPSP) and from Congress that the access charge imposed by the local telephone service operators and cell phone operators are very high. For cellular phone, transit charges should not be higher than P0.25 per minute, while the access charge should not be higher than P1.50 per minute or for regular national long distance telephone calls. "The offering of VoIP services by a VoIP service provider accessed through a broadband connection provided by another operator is allowed without need of a prior commercial arrangement with or permission from the said broadband operator," the NTC said. - GMANews.TV