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Addressing the issue of poor network connectivity, the government has approved internet telephony in India, that will allow mobile phone users to place calls using home or office WiFi through a broadband connection. Soon, telephone operators such as Reliance Jio, Airtel, BSNL etc. who acquire a license for internet telephony, can offer their subscribers an alternative number to place calls, but without the need for a SIM card.

The proposal for internet telephony was recommended by the telecom regulator TRAI in October with the intention of providing connectivity to users affected by poor network connectivity and calls drops. The telephony service can be used by downloading the mobile phone app from respective telecom operators.

The service will greatly benefit users where conventional telecom signals are weak while wifi connectivity is strong, Arvind Kumar, advisor at TRAI, was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

To use internet telephony, a mobile phone user can download the app offered by a telecom operator. The app will provide the user with a ten digit number similar to a regular telephone number.

"For example, you may be using an Airtel SIM for your existing telecom needs, but may later download a Jio internet telephony app for which you will get a new and different number. This app can be used to make calls using broadband,” Kumar was quoted as saying.

Those who download telephony apps from their own telecom operators can make use of the same number as the one linked to their SIM card. With Internet telephony, the government hopes to address the immediate concerns of poor network connectivity and frequent call drops experienced by users across the country.

