I don't think it is good idea to allow telecom operators to regulate services like WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, etc. It goes against the principles of net neutrality, which dictates that all data should be treated equally. 

We already pay the telecom operators for the data we use to access these services. What we do with the data is none of their business. Charging for services like IM and VoIP is their way of leeching more money out of their customers. They are afraid they will turn into dumb data pipes and these are their attempts to stay relevant and find more ways to get money from people. 

TRAI has always been on the side of the customer. We have some of the lowest call rates in the world and the cellular situation in the country is preferable to even developed markets like the USA. If we want to keep things that we, we must adopt net neutrality in a big way, and keep the interests of the customers, not the telecom operators, at heart. 

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Prasad Naik