BSNL first telco to start Net telephony, prepaid landline billing

New Delhi: State-run BSNL has become the first telecom company to launch internet telephony 'Wings' after government gave its go-ahead last month to access service providers and also has introduced a first-time prepaid concept to landline billings akin to mobile services. 

The PSU soft launched these services recently. 

BSNL chairman and MD Anupam Shrivastava told Financial Chronicle "WINGS' service is absolutely Trai compliant and the customers will be able to make calls through downloadable BSNL App linked to a mobile numbering scheme and the App will work on WiFi connectivity".

The company will formally launch the service from August 1, 2018. The Tariff plan for the Wings is unlimited free Audio/Video calling for one year at one time activation. Customer has to activate the Services (one time in life) at Rs 1099.

The state carrier said  " BSNL is ready with its Internet Telephony (VOIP) Service with brand name “WINGS” to the customers. This service using Mobile Numbering scheme is being provided to the users.

The other key offerings of Wings will be which the PSU promotes are  -- There are some areas where mobile coverage is not good thus poor speech quality but internet available by any means including Wi-Fi. Using Wings service using Internet service of any operator, customer will be active and make/receive calls.

BSNL said Wings service APP is easily configurable on Smart phone/Laptop/Notebook by simply downloading SIP Client (Soft App) and Customers can make call using any of the Internet Connection like broadband / Wi-Fi / 3G / 4G data network of any operator. It can also be provided over Internet Leased Line customer not having normal voice.

Customer can use existing address book of Mobile while calling.

BSNL known for its innovative tariff plans which has helped it to survive competition and in fact grow its mobile subscriber bases has introduced prepaid plan for fixed telephony similar to mobile prepaid plans.

The PSU announced “Prepaid Land Line service” that was also softlaunched on Next Generation Network (NGN) platform with enhanced features. The Prepaid Landline gives freedom for the customer in terms of “Pay as per use” and there are no installation charges applicable and no registration charges and rental Charges. Customer can purchase an initial plan voucher of Rs 200 with unlimited calls to any network and anywhere in India with a validity of 30 days.

BSNL has a wireless subscriber base of 110 million and the latest plans are part of its strategy to stay and beat competition.  It has 58 per cent market share in fixedline.

BSNL which was the first company to introduce roaming free across the country will unleash  the competition  in this segment also with its segmented tariff plans and soon other telecom service providers such as Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone are expected to provide internet telephony to their subscribers using internet services from other service providers.  

With this , the voice and video callings which were possible only through over-the-top (OTT) players such as WhatsApp or Facebook or Google Hangouts, will soon be available through the apps of telecom service provider.

A telecom analyst said the internet telephony will help BSNL to get another revenue stream and the flexibility in fixedline prepaid billing could check its falling landline subscriber base and in fact raise the user-base as it still is the market leader there.