BSNL has announced its latest “Wings” internet telephony (VoIP) service for its consumers. The announcement comes after the telecom operator received a green light to launch the service from the Telecom Commission, who has allowed companies that hold a valid telecom licence to provide app-based calling service on Wi-Fi connections. With the new service, the telco is offering one year of unlimited audio and video calling at Rs 1,099. However, to place a call to any phone number or landline, one will need to use the company’s mobile app called Wings and the service will make use of internet service of any operator to make/receive calls.
The company has started registrations for the new service in all its telecom circles and new connections will be activated from August 1, 2018. One will also be able to place international calls that will be charged in line with the existing landline tariff with an additional ISD deposit of Rs 2,000. It should be noted that the video calling service will only work between Wings app users. The app can also be configured to be used on a computer by downloading the SIP Client (App). BSNL says that it will make use of any Internet Connection like broadband, Wi-Fi, 3G/4G data network of any operator for placing calls. This means that one can expect robust network connectivity in areas where cellular network is patchy but there is a good Wi-Fi connection available.
BSNL says that using the VoIP based service, one will be able to place calls to any other network in the country. The company says, “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 using IP based access network of IMS NGN Core switches. To use the service, a customer needs to install a SIP client (soft app) on any of its smart devices (laptop/smart mobile handset/tablet etc) having internet which will act as SIP phone to make and receive calls from anywhere in India and abroad with any party (landline/mobile). The subscriber uses its parent IMS core and IP access network of any location for the voice service through BSNL ‘Wings’.”
Reliance Jio uses a similar system, via its Jio4GVoice app, for enabling VoIP calling on non-4G devices. However, unlike BSNL’s Wings service that can make use of any WiFi and 4G/3G data network, it relies on the company’s own network.