While some may not consider VoIP and VoIP-based mobile apps subject to the same pressures of regulation that the rest of the Internet feels, they have been caught in the crosshairs of a recent censorship battle in Haiti. Digicel (News - Alert), a communications provider that serves much of Haiti, has taken serious heat amid allegations from the Haitian government that it has been taking part in shady practices to gain market advantage.
Last month, Digicel announced that it would block VoIP applications to customers in the region. These apps allow users to make international calls at little to no cost, which is great for the consumer but not so great for providers looking to turn a bigger profit. The move immediately drew a negative backlash from Haitian consumers who use VoIP-based services like magicJack and Skype (News - Alert) to connect with people around the world. To justify blocking these VoIP apps, Digicel claimed it was to fund an education tax called the National Fund for Education (FNE), which had been imposed by the Martelly administration after only days in power and without legislation – which, as The Sentinel pointed out, is constitutionally required before any tax may be applied.
After a month of debate, Digicel announced that by midnight on Wednesday of this week, Digicel would unblock all VoIP applications. While lifting the ban may seem like a gesture of good will, Digicel and members of the Martelly administration have met in closed-door meetings to devise a plan for applying a tax on international calls. Rather than opting out of less than legitimate means to tax users, it seems that Digicel’s decision to reverse the block was fueled largely by pressure from other markets, such as Trinidad and Tobago, whose regulatory commissions requested Digicel end the unwarranted Internet censorship.
The Haitian government's regulatory commission, CONATEL, released a statement saying that Digicel should "ensure all services and applications...be restored without delay" and will "continue to evaluate the situation of VoIP communications companies unlicensed on the Haitian territory and will inform the public of regulatory measures taken," according to The Sentinel.
VoIP and softswitch technologies come with a host of benefits—the most notable being that because the services are Internet-based, communication can be achieved cheaply and universally around the world. While governments and providers will likely continue to clash over how to regulate the service, one thing is clear: VoIP is here to stay.