The Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia (TRC) has issued a warning to 15 companies that offer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services for allegedly failing to pay their annual fees.

In a statement published on a local media website on August 22, the TRC demanded the companies pay the annual registration fee for 2013 by August 30 or have their VoIP access removed.

“For those who do not pay the 2013 bill by the above deadline, the TRC will dismiss and remove their VoIP code,” the announcement said, without detailing the amounts owed.

Among the 15 companies named in the statement are Hiway Telecom Cambodia, Cambodia Data Communication, DialAny Internet Telecom and WiCam Corporation.

VoIP services, such as Skype, offer a cheap alternative to telephone calls. They allow users to make calls to any country with just a web connection.

Chan Thol, director of WiCam Corporation, said he received a bill from the regulator, but not an official warning about the removal of his VoIP access.

“It is not a big issue; we can negotiate,” he said, requesting the regulator to first alert clients before issuing a public notice and disconnection warning.

Sok Channda, former chief executive officer of Cambodia Data Communication, contested the TRC’s claim.

“The bill amount that the TRC has sent through is higher than usual, so we don’t agree and we need them to clarify,” she said, adding that her company had shut down late last year.