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VoIP Receives Warm Reception From UK Regulators

Posted by timothy on from the adam-smith's-spinning-slows-momentarily dept.

"In stark contrast to the U.S., where VoIP providers may be stifled by wiretap costs, the UK telecoms regulators seem to be welcoming the technology. The BBC is reporting that a block of phone numbers have been assigned to VoIP users -- and that Ofcom, the regulators, have said 'Our first task as regulator is to keep out of the way.'

7 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. BT? by peterprior · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Our first task as regulator is to keep out of the way."

    Lets hope they don't stay out of the way for too long, like they did with BT, especially given how quickly businesses get a foothold in these kinds of markets.

    1. Re:BT? by dave420 · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Are you crazy? Oftel were so far up BT's ass. BT couldn't do anything without Oftel screaming "unfair! unfair! abuse of position!". BT wanted to slash call charges, and drastically reduce broadband costs, yet Oftel pipes up and says "that's abusing your position, and unfair to the smaller telcos who can't compete", and so BT has its hands tied. Of course, from the outside, it might look completely different.

      The best thing that could happen to VoIP is Oftel staying away.

    2. Re:BT? by dave420 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      No, even if BT had unbundled every loop they can get their hands on, BT are still screwed. Their sheer size means Oftel doesn't let them do anything that they can get away with (due to their size) and other telcos can't. Oftel help, but they get in the way a hell of a lot more often :)

  2. Re:a nice idea, but it won't last by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think you're confused, because this is a story about VOIP in the United Kingdom, not the US. There is no "Congress". There are no convoluted tax laws that only apply to telecoms. VOIP users will pay VAT on their service just like any other telecoms user. Total impact on tax revenues would be expected to increase slightly, not decrease.

  3. Ofcom are consulting by Andy_R · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The story for us Brits here is not the rather waffly statement that ofcom "seem to be welcoming" VoIP, it's the hard fact that they are having a consultation period on it.

    They want to know our views on issues such as mandatory provision of free 999 calls (our emergency number, equivalent to 911 in the USA).

    The consultation ends on the 15th November. Here is how to respond. If we want a sensible VoIP policy in Britain, now would be a good time to ask the regulatory body for it.

    --
    A pizza of radius z and thickness a has a volume of pi z z a
  4. RIPA covers VOIP - it's internet communications. by devitto · · Score: 4, Insightful

    OFTEL don't need to push the interception stance, because RIPA already covers it.

    The US survelliance laws are _totally_ different to those of the UK.

  5. Naturally. by base3 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You don't start squeezing the industry until it's reached a critical mass. Otherwise, you kill the golden goose before it's laid its first egg. By waiting and pretending you'll regulate lightly, you encourage investment. Once there's a lot of money sunk in, you can tax and tighten all you want, so long as there's an economic profit for the investors.

    --
    One CPU cycle wasted on digital restrictions management is ONE TOO MANY.