State-run operator BSNL has announced the soft launch of WINGS, the telecom company’s first initiative towards internet telephony services in India, several months after Telecom commission TRAI revised its VoIP guidelines in October last year. The initiative will allow users to make and receive calls over the internet through their landline or mobile connections on a one-time prepaid fee of Rs 1,099 which will be valid for the course of a year.
The WINGS service will employ Mobile numbering scheme with the help of IP-specific access network of IMS NGN Core switches. Users will thus need to install a software which basically works as a SIP client on a user’s smartphone, tablet or a laptop that needs to be connected to the internet.
BSNL is currently offering voice and video calling for a whole year on the payment of a one-time activation fee which is Rs 1,099. The initiative is aimed at users who live in areas where there is a lack of mobile coverage and WINGS can thus make telephony services easy again using any kind of internet, be it WiFi, 4G, or 3G networks. Video calling is available as a Wings-to-Wings only feature for now.
Considering this is a soft launch, interested users will need to enrol themselves with immediate effect for the first batch of rollout which starts on August 1 across all telecom circles.
Separately, BSNL has also launched a new broadband plan with daily benefits of up to 20GB data at 20Mbps speeds with unlimited calling for a payment of Rs 491 per month to tackle the latest launch of Reliance Jio’s JioGigaFiber FTTH broadband service.