Regulatory Approach to Emerging Issues: IP Telephony

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Regulatory Approach to Emerging Issues IP
Telephony

• Tao Qing
• May, 2006

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Basic features of IP

• VoIP Short for Voice over Internet Protocol,
  describes the category of hardware and software
  that enables people to make telephone calls via
  the Internet, voice signals are converted to
  packets of data.
• Three styles
• PC to PC, PC to Phone, Phone to Phone
• Features
• Based on network
• New technology
• Low price
• Multi-service Voice, data

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Challenges to PSTN phone

• New service originated from technology innovation
• Substitution of fixed telephone
• IDD traffic influenced seriously
• Interconnection with PSTN

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New chances to PSTN

• New revenue resource
• Interconnection fee
• IP subscribes need to interconnect with PSTN
  users
• Services by fixed operators
• IP operators need fixed networks and services,
  such as yellow pages, number portability
• Internet access broadband, narrowband
• Provision of IP phone should be based on Internet
  access

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Status Quo in China

• VoIP focus on PC-phone
• Business trail from 2005
• in four areas
• China Telecom Shang Rao, Shen Zhen
• China Network Chang Chun, Tai An
• To explore the following contents
• Quality of the service
• Network measuring and testing
• Business model
• Policy such as interconnection, billing,
  numbering etc.

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Future policy (I)

• Principles of regulation
• Encourage technology innovation
• Protect interests of users
• Security of network and information
• Basic Policies
• Which category, basic or value-added?
• Ex ante or ex post?

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Future policy (II)

• Regulatory points
• Market access open market to ISP
• Interconnection
• Quality
• Interconnection fee
• Pricing and billing
• Quality of service
• Emergency call
• Yellow page service

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• Thanks!