PUNE, January 9: In a bid to curb the unprecedented rise in usage of Internet facility for "telephony" and other illegal services, the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) has decided to debar errant subscribers from using Internet services.The Nigam has already begun Operation Crack-down with a stringent warning to Internet subscribers flashed on January 6. The warning, issued in the form of an e-mail message to all the subscribers, mentions that those subscribers found to be violating the conditions of subscription would be permanently debarred from using Internet services.
VSNL's action is learnt to have come in the wake of huge revenue loss incurred by the Nigam and Department of Telecommunication (DoT) as a result of blatant use of Internet facility for telephony and fax services by subscribers. Some agents are also reported to be actively selling Internet telephony by offering low tariffs. In order to trace errant defaulters, the Nigam has embarked upon a full-fledged programme to monitor misuse ofInternet. The software and hardware package required for accurately tracing the defaulters has already been devised and put into use by VSNL authorities. Sources in VSNL headquarters at Mumbai conceded that as part of the operation, which has already come into force, the Nigam had already blocked the sites of detected defaulters and that the vigilance would be further intensified in the coming days.
Speaking to The Indian Express, general manager of VNSL Dighi Station VSRK Sarma, which is one of the 20 Internet linking gateways in the country, said the drive had been launched on a national basis.
He said the usage of telephony on the Internet is violative of the terms and conditions of Internet subscription and the Indian rules and regulations.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
