Chile's telecommunications regulator Subtel has published a list of regulations for voice over internet protocol services, which guarantee concessionaries and subscribers the same rights as those linked to traditional telephony services. According to the new regulations, although internet telephony is different from traditional telephony, it is still a public service which requires a concession licence. The regulations allow users to make VoIP calls to and from the public telephone network, with the right to complain about poor service, receive an itemised bill, end a contract in a maximum of ten days, as well as call emergency numbers even when the service is suspended due to non-payment. The regulations do not cover internet-to-internet calls or one-directional calls from the internet to public phone networks, such as Skype Out, which do not permit the public network to call back the internet number. VoIP service providers will receive blocks of numbers that will be assigned to a geographical area, so that callers can be connected to the internet outside the geographical area, but calls will still be charged as if initiated from the area where the number is registered. Additionally, the concessionary must inform the user about the quality of service being provided, and the service is not subject to multiport use for long-distance communications. Concessionaries may interconnect with the public telephone network either directly or indirectly via their own means or via third parties, assuming the cost of interconnection. The service is subject to telephone line interception according to the public security regulations established by law. Additionally, the responsibilities of the service dealer are separated from those of the broadband service provider and of the ISP.

Source:Telecompaper