During session 8 on ‘A VoIP World’, the writers of the discussion papers presented their views on the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) status and the future of VoIP Interconnection.

In her presentation, Ms. Phillippa Biggs, Economist at ITU/SPM GSR and writer of the discussion paper on ‘Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): Enemy or Ally‘, implied that VoIP is growing strongly by all metrics: traffic, subscribers, and national adoption. In fact VoIP Traffic forms quarter of the total international traffic and VoIP is allowed in half of World countries.

In her conclusion she mentioned among other things the following:

• Developing countries and SIDS still struggling with convergence/VoIP regulations –and the many difficult issues they raise;
  
  
• Market structure and incumbent’s revenue structure have a big impact on willingness to embrace (retail) VoIP, as do political realities.
  
  
• The overall market direction is clear.
  
  
• Smaller slice of bigger Telecommunications Market? Batelco (Bahrain) thinks so!
  
  
• Opening up VoIP could help industry, market liberalization & and boosting of new services.
  
  
• Better to move forward & embrace future, rather than cling to old models
  
  

On the other hand, Mr. Rudolf , Management Consultant at Logica Management Consulting and writer of the discussion paper on the Future of VoIP Interconnection said that VoIP is changing the traditional telephony world and it challenges many assumptions.

Mr. Van der Berg explained thoroughly the reasons why VoIP can support all traditional interconnection processes, business models and regulation.

• Interconnection functions the same regardless of technology. It consists of: Lookup, Signaling and Transcoding & Transfer
  
  
• VoIP supports the same way as Traditional Fixed and Mobile networks the E.164 telephone numbers and it can offer new services.
  
  
• With VoIP comes ENUM as a new lookup mechanism. This could support a national E.164 database and number portability platform with additional services
  
  
• ENUM could be an ideal platform for a national E.164 database and number portability platform with additional services in addition to enabling innovation VoIP supports traditional business models for interconnection, with lower prices. VoIP providers will likely move to specialized interconnection platforms
  
  
• For regulators the lookup process warrants the most attention. Signalling, transcoding and transfer may not need regulatory attention
  
  

Upon the request of the moderator, Mr. Masambu, Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission, the floor was opened for the panelists to present briefly the situation of VoIP in their respective countries.

Mr. Dorji, Head of the InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) in Bhutan emphasized on the fact that in 2006 a major transformation took place in the telecommunications sector in Bhutan. They have moved from a service specific regime to a converged regime and the regulator has become a convergent regulator. The telecommunications act specifically imposes neutrality of technology and services. Currently the regulator is looking in depth at the most appropriate solution for numbering plan and ENUM challenges. The stakeholders’ outcome of the last public consultation on how to go forward with VoIP mainly regarding the numbering plan was to adopt a non-geographic plan.

Mr. Eid, Commissioner and Head of Market and Competition Unit at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in Lebanon, has exposed the main similarities and differences between basic voice telephony and VoIP. Mr. Eid has also highlighted the TRA vision on the regulatory framework for voice over IP. The regulator intends to regulate only managed VoIP services and impose Quality of Service indicators on all providers of VoIP regardless of their dominant position. Eventually, competition will drive the operators to have a good quality. The main challenges of the regulator with respect to VoIP will be ensuring national security and lawful interception. Also, the regulator intends to extend the numbering plan to include ENUM to ease to introduction of VoIP services.

Mr. Jankovic, Executive Director of the Republic Telecommunication Agency (RATEL) in Serbia explained that the introduction of VoIP was necessary considering the status of the Serbian market in terms of number of subscribers and players in the mobile, broadband and internet markets. For this purpose, the regulator has introduced the rules, terms and conditions for the provisions of VoIP as per the recommendations of ITU. VoIP providers need to interconnect to at least one mobile or fixed operator. Since 2008, the regulator granted more than 40 authorizations for the provision of VoIP through broadband networks or by using calling cards.

In conclusion, with the natural trend towards convergent services and the important and rapid growth of broadband, VoIP is becoming a feature in ICT applications.