BSNL starts first Internet calls service

new delhi — State-owned BSNL on Wednesday unveiled the country’s first Internet telephony service that will allow users to dial any telephone number in India through its mobile app, starting from July 25.

The company launched the app ‘Wings’ that will allow customers to make unlimited calls by paying annual fee of Rs1,099 and by using Internet service or Wi-Fi of any telecom operator, to any phone number. “In present competitive environment, increase in market share by BSNL is laudable. I congratulate BSNL management for Internet telephony which will enable consumers to make call without SIM,” Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said after inaugurating the service.

Currently, voice calls can be made through mobile apps by users of the same app. Registrations will commence in the next couple of days and the service will begin from July 25, BSNL chairman and managing director Anupam Shrivastava said. “Customers will be able to make calls to numbers in India using ‘Wings’ app even from abroad. The app can be activated using Internet anywhere in the world and calls can be made. The fee of Rs1,099 includes unlimited calling within India,” Shrivastava said.

He said the app will be linked to a mobile number that will be issued by BSNL and it is not mandatory for Wings app user to apply for company’s mobile and landline connection separately. —