With a DoT panel siding to guard telecom companies’ national call sales, over the top players like WhatsApp will need to tweak their business models by introducing paid calling services online, says credit rating company Ind Ra.

“Players like WhatsApp, WeChat, and Increase shall need to tweak their business models by distinguishing between the messaging and VoIP product offerings,” it included.

The official panel on web neutrality had proposed regulation of national calls on web-based programs like WhatsApp Skype and Viber by placing them on par with services made available by telecom operators.

It said that voice services control 50% of sales for telcos, even though there’s been a decrease in average revenue per user on voice lately.

Among the reasons for the relatively slower pick up on the VoIP calls has become the bandwidth problems, but the imminent start of the high speed 4G services may present a risk and much more consumers may choose to change to VoIP, the bureau said.

The recommendations of the Department of Telecom’s Committee, set up on web neutrality flared up in India following the discussion, came in for criticism from various sector bodies. IT services business lobby Nasscom said regulating it’ll be rough to track conformity and national net calls will result in breach of privacy.

No regulation was favoured by the DoT committee for international VoIP calls.

Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that even though he set up the panel, the recommendation of it’s don’t signify perspective of the authorities. The report is in public domain for opinions till August 15.

After contemplating public viewpoints and recommendation of telecom regulator TRAI its perspectives will firm up.