KATHMANDU: Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) is developing a separate regulation to collect the amount that telecom service providers have been losing due to the illegally operated Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).The government has started a crackdown on illegal call bypass centres, the authority said, adding that some operators have also been arrested. Telecom service providers have started calculating losses that they have incurred due to illegal call bypass, according to the regulator.
The authority will develop the procedure on how to collect the amount that was lost due to illegal VoIP operation along with fines, said an official at the authority.
The authority has invited public opinion to develop a regulation to collect the principle amount and fines from the operators of illegal Voice over Internet Protocol.
The state has to formulate a strong regulation to control illegal Voice over Internet Protocol since it has been causing losses worth millions, the official added. The regulator had formed a sub-committee to study on the modality of collecting the amount that was lost due to illegal VoIP operations. “The sub-committee has recommended three different modalities to identify the amount lost,” informed the official.
Telecom service providers should also be more careful while distributing new SIM cards, suggested the sub-committee, saying the distribution of SIM cards by keeping a strong database of users will help reduce
the current trend of operating call bypass centres.
The authority will propose to the government to ban the import of equipment used for VoIP operations, which are brought without the prior consent from the regulator. “It is a must to regulate the import of equipment since VoIP is a completely technical issue and illegal operators take advantage due to the lack of knowledge among the general public.”
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