Airtel starts charging for VoIP, calls on Viber and Skype not to be covered by data packs
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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 rates of 4p / 10 KB (3G service) and 10p / 10 KB.
deal_seeker wrote:Mr_N wrote:DAN wrote:
what if we use Wifi ? can they still charge ?
WiFi doesn’t count as cellular network usage na? I don’t think anything you do on a separate WiFi network can be regulated by your cellular service provider.
Or are you talking about using VOIP on a device tethered via WiFi to a device on an Airtel network?BTW, this might be a silly question, but how will Airtel detect data as originating from a VOIP app vs. regular data from Internet browsing? Is it possible to have a way to send VOIP data as non-VOIP data other than VPN?
Not a silly question. ISPs can see and check data packets at the IP layer. So checking data packets with VoIP protocols is trivial for them. You have to use some kind of “wrapper” to avoid detection, which is exactly why we use a VPN relay (encrypted proxy) in the first place.As for @DAN’s question of using WiFi to bypass this check, you are thinking of this the wrong way. A WiFi router simply lets you use the same internet on multiple devices by using NAT. As long as the data packets travel through Airtel without encryption (i.e. without a VPN), they can check, block, charge extra, or do whatever they wish with your traffic.
.
Folks this is Illegal,
if u r a Airtel customer, from today you have to pay xtra for using Skype/Viber/Line and other services which allows VoIP calls over internet. This is a simple case of fraud by Airtel and against Net Neutrality.
Meanwhile airtel customers
wiremeshart wrote:
Viber and Skype are their (every Telcos’) peripheral scare only. The reason for this change resides elsewhere .
http://androidworld.nl/nieuws/whatsapp-bellen-w... impending danger with largest customer spread
one can do their own math.
If a Telco permits use of such Apps (which have voice and text messaging), how many would still use the GSM/CDMA network instead of VoIP. What with subsidised data packs and near unlimited use possible for nominal costs of internet.
cybertechie wrote:
Bad move by airtel. This would result in lot of port outs from airtel network. I have never used VOIP on data packs since i don’t think any service provider in india offers decent 3g/2g network that can be used for quality Voip calls. Good old Broadband and cable networks are much more efficient for VOIP calls. Airtel customer care folks would have a hard time dealing with users since many users not aware of the new development might end up getting charged for Voip calls. What i’m worried about is a precedent where other ISP’s follows airtel and enforces similar tactics. As of now people should not be too worried since they can easily port out to vodafone, idea etc.
As of now people should not be too worried since they can easily port out to vodafone, idea etc.
It is only a matter of choosing between the lesser evil. and none are lesser (look up what Dhaval Vali went through for just standing up for himself).
Who is this ‘dhaval vali’..??
hg916 wrote:wiremeshart wrote:
It is only a matter of choosing between the lesser evil. and none are lesser (look up what Dhaval Vali went through for just standing up for himself).
Who is this ‘dhaval vali’..??
Pata nahi no idea, probablywiremeshart believes he is someone who is as famous as Gandhi so that wiremeshart feels bas naam hi kaafi hai.
deal_seeker wrote:dr.house wrote:
airtel is a bitch i no use airtel i do bsnl
Edit: Those who don’t get the joke, see this: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=.... To make it better, try to read his sentence in a Russian accent.
Grammar Nazi strikes again, this time with a russian joke.
dr.house wrote:airtel is a bitch i no use airtel i do bsnl
I salute u man…Aircel next?
Government to Look Into Airtel’s Plan to Charge for Internet Calls: Ravi Shankar Prasad
airtel is chindi chor like mobiwik:-D 
Sad News for Airtel dewane…………….
shame on you……..
Gopal Vittal
Bharti Airtel, CEO
Airtel India today has decided to charge it’s customer extra on usage of each GB of data for VoIP(voice calls over Internet).
On 3G network will cost about Rs 4,000 and while the same on 2G network will cost about Rs 10,000.
Dear Logical Indians, we believe that the neutrality of the internet must be maintained at all costs. It is unfair to charge extra for data used to make voip calls via Viber, Skype etc. If you agree with us, please email the below to the addresses mentioned.
___________________________________
Mail to: [email protected],
CC: [email protected], [email protected]
To,
The Honorable Minister, Department of Telecommunications.
Subject: Gross Violation of Net Neutrality and Restrictive Business Malpractice by Airtel India.
Dear Sir,
It has come to our attention today that #Airtel has decided to start charging for VOIP data traffic on all Subscribed Internet Plans.
Quoting it, from their terms and conditions page:
“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 rates of 4p / 10 KB (3G service) and 10p / 10 KB (2G service). “
This is a gross violation of the principles of Net Neutrality. As the Internet is essentially seen as a utility, promoting such a misstep is only going to further impede the government’s vision of providing cheap and affordable Internet to all its citizens.
Being providers of utility services, an ISP should not be able to control or alter the terms of access to such services according to their whims and fantasies. This is going to set a dangerous precedent where ISP’s will have the ability to dictate the terms for all internet companies, unless they are paid first.
This is similar to how monopolies act, and the government should be more proactive in trying to discourage such business practices.
We would also like to bring to your notice that failing to prevent such malpractices will lead to further collusion and cartel-like behavior among the Indian ISPs.
We have already seen enough instances of such behavior, where some of these same ISP’s have colluded against the interests of the consumer and the exchequer. Therefore, we believe that it is time the government took notice of this issue.
India is a growing economy with a nascent Internet Industry. Failure to prevent the spread of such practices will further discourage Internet startups from working and/or coming to India, leading to fewer businesses and reduced employments in the future.
We ask for your help, in keeping the Internet open and available to all the citizens of India. We sincerely believe it is the most powerful medium of communication that humanity has ever created, and a failure to act today, might endanger this nascent tool from achieving its greatness.
Thank you.
- The Logical Indian
Email draft from the Reddit thread:
/r/india/comments/2qabsd/airtel_breaking_net_neutrality_and_web_censorship/
A request to all,
The only way to stop this is to take action!
How to take action is to speak up.
check http://netneutrali…n/
Share on Social Media:
You should tweet to @airtel_presence and @airtelindia on Twitter. Here’s a sample tweet to start with:
@airtelindia @Airtel_Presence Charging extra for VoIP violates net neutrality. @PMOIndia @rsprasad #voip #airtel
In the recent Loksabha elections, Airtel India/Bharti Group have made political donations of more than 69 crores, among which more than 41 crores went to BJP through a trust.
hg916 wrote:
Who is this ‘dhaval vali’..??
lo siento mucho amigo
es Dhaval Valia y no dhaval vali
gracias !
Updated: Vodafone’s Legal Notice To Customer Points Towards A Bigger Problem
http://www.medianama.com/2011/06/223-vodafones-…
Vodafone Sues A Customer For His Facebook Posts
http://www.nextbigwhat.com/vodafone-dhaval-vali…
Vodafone India Fails in Facebook Reputation Management
https://www.techinasia.com/vodafone-india-fails…
Vodafone drops defamation case against man who talks too much
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/cover-story/…
wiremeshart
Deal Cadet
DAN wrote:deal_seeker wrote:dr.house wrote:
airtel is a bitch i no use airtel i do bsnl
Edit: Those who don’t get the joke, see this: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=.... To make it better, try to read his sentence in a Russian accent.
Grammar Nazi strikes again, this time with a russian joke.
lol 
. on a side note I absolutely hate telecom corporations here in India, they are a collective corp of individual corporations, they kill competition and #TRAI and #CCI Competition Commission of India watch like like fools, 3g has not been effectively deployed even in 40% of the country.
still_guessing wrote:dr.house wrote:airtel is a bitch i no use airtel i do bsnl
I salute u man…Aircel next?
No need man! use this energy to kill this evil corporate greed.
Airtel is like that Sabjiwala who tells you:
“Ye jo Gajar hai, isko agar Salad me daaloge to 5 rs/kg, aur agar iska Halwa banaoge to 50 Rs/kg”
Guys this is still alive.
UPDATE
Airtel and Vodafone want to make more money by screwing with India’s internet. Here is how you can stop them
You son of bitch, Airtel!