Expert: Internet calling is telephone calling

WHETHER a telephone call is achieved through a communications network system or an Internet protocol network (via computers), international call centres are providing a telephone service to the public. This is the view of Chris Seecharan, telecommunications adviser in the Ministry of Public Administration. Seecharan expressed this opinion during hearing of a lawsuit filed by the call centres for judicial review of the Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) decision to render their operations illegal. The case came up for hearing yesterday before Madame Justice Carol Gobin in the San Fernando High Court.

The RIC contends that the call centres, at which customers can make overseas telephone calls via the Internet, contravened telecommunications regulations. Such calls cost $1 a minute. Seecharan’s affidavit, including technical reports on telecommunications policies and legislation from various parts of the world, were served on attorneys for the call centres on Monday. Attorneys Lynette Maharaj SC and Carol Cuffy-Dowlat, instructed by Dinesh Rambhally, are representing the call centres, while former senior State attorney Kerwyn Garcia yesterday informed Madame Justice Gobin that Andre de Vignes SC will represent the RIC.

Seecharan said he was part of the technical team from the Ministry which advised the Minister on drafting amendments to the Telecommunications Act 2001 which are currently before Parliament. He said based on field investigations of the call centres’ operations, customers use traditional telephone handsets at one end to have real time voice conversations with users in other jurisdictions who use traditional telephone instruments at the other end. Madame Justice Gobin fixed July 12 for the filing of response to the affidavit and adjourned the case to the first available Cause List in October.