Airtel wont Surcharge VoIP; TRAI: "not in accordance with net neutrality, it was not illegal."

This time it took just few days for an MNO to drop its intentions to surcharge VoIP.

While Airtel said that "current VoIP model is not sustainable" the public reaction, as well as some government actions convinced it to drop the idea.

Reuters reports that "Bharti Airtel Ltd dropped a plan on Monday to charge clients extra for Internet communication services such as Skype, amid a debate on allowing equal access to web content and a backlash from subscribers .. The proposal sparked widespread complaints from Indians on social media and the creation of a website to fight against the plan. 

On Monday though, Airtel said the company had decided not to implement the policy in the face of "news reports that a consultation paper will be issued shortly by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on issues relating to services offered by OTT players including VOIP.

The head of TRAI, Rahul Khullar [pictured] , told local media last week that while Airtel's decision to charge more for these services was not in accordance with net neutrality, it was not illegal."

Well played Airtel. http://t.co/oLKlbEF5dI pic.twitter.com/ay3E7P8Dgp
— Nikhil Pahwa (@nixxin) December 29, 2014

See "Bharti Airtel drops move to charge more for VoIP calls" - here.