OTT bypass–when OTT app providers terminate calls through an OTT app that have begun life as a normal fixed or mobile telephone call–could reduce carrier revenues as much as 30 percent, argues Andy Gent, Revector CEO.
That matters for more-widespread internet access availability because the ability to invest in money-losing rural access is hampered when overall revenue and profits are under pressure.
OTT bypass affects carrier revenue because the bypass shifts call termination revenue away from telcos and to app providers.
“In the past month we have detected OTT Bypass across the globe with several operators reporting a reduction in termination call revenues of 25 percent, month on month,” said Gent.
“We have seen calls that have been made from one mobile phone number directly to another be received on a Viber app across three different continents and more than 15 network operators and national telecommunications regulators have contacted us regarding this issue in the past two weeks,”Gent said.
