![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9jYOrcEaiYt_q0QGKau1yOsb5JbnlR2dRPSZTTDvTv4BOJxti6g4-XyyeljYKGibld2-tal_ig2eB4d5V8mPXddPKDoAOXY5ltnqNoAerVeNeRCfjAnFOZnDKeMZVIRzhvtkHw/s320/Skype_logo2.svg.png)
The news that there has been over 1 million downloads of Skype to iPhones in just two days is challenging mobile operators to face up to the fact that their voice revenues – which for better or for worse are still the bedrock of their financial health, despite all the talk of data services – may be truly coming under threat at last. While consumer advocacy groups (and VoIP providers) are arguing for operators to open up their network (so called ‘net neutrality’), mobile operators are looking to block Skype in the name of ‘network efficiency’ and ‘non-compliance’ of the application with their network.
While there is a certain inevitability about VoIP as operators look towards LTE and an all-IP network, data loads are increasing over 3G (and more so with HSPA), pushing the cost-per-bit for ever higher. With the advent of LTE, mature operators will be left with at least three overlaying Radio Access Networks (RAN) to manage - 2G, 3G and 3.9/4G networks. With a large portion of the delivery cost of every bit being RAN-related, the challenging economics of mobile broadband will enforce the need for a much sharper focus on delivery cost per data bit if operators are to remain profitable.
So maybe both sides are telling the truth ... operators are fighting a rear-guard action because they fear the impact of opening up their network to yet more data which they cannot directly monetise, while VoIP advocates are right in pointing a figure at operators' basic revenue concerns as the real motivation for their opposition.
* Actix is an AxiCom client
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