[January 12, 2007] VoissNet: Proposed VoIP regulations far from the mark Tweet (BNamericas.com Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) IP telephony regulations proposed by Chile's telecoms regulator Subtel are contradictory and would favor foreign companies over local ones, according to Alberto Mordojovic, CEO of IP telephony provider VoissNet. If approved, the document proposed by Subtel would force IP telephony providers to meet the same requirements established for traditional telephony operators, Mordojovic told BNamericas. "By requesting IP telephony providers to meet regulations of traditional telephony, the prices of the service would go up unnecessarily, which would affect people that otherwise would be able to access a more economical telephony service through the internet," Mordojovic said. Examples of the fixed line regulations Subtel is proposing for IP telephony operators include the need to interconnect with the public telephony network, meaning extra payments to access a local telephony number, and amazingly, access to the multicarrier system to use long distance services. The reason behind these rules is so that Subtel can regulate the use of numbers in the telephony network, as a way to protect consumers. According to Mordojovic it is this regulation that would discriminate against local IP telephony providers while benefiting foreign firms, such as Skype, that use telephony numbers from the US. "We could use numbers from other countries, but our clients want numbers from Chile. We believe the regulation has no argument [to the effect of protecting users] because clients will have many alternatives to protect themselves against abuse because there will be many providers operating," he said. Subtel had set January 19 as the deadline to receive comments from interested parties about the proposed regulations, however VoissNet has officially requested an extension until at least March for fear that they will go unnoticed during the summer vacation period. "Not all the entities that should comment on the document, such as universities, consumer organizations and the congressional telecoms committees, are aware [of these details] because many are on vacation. This document is important for the country and we ask for an extension at least until March when they have all come back," Mordojovic said. Copyright 2006 BNamericas.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]