VoIP and softswitch technologies are now widespread. VoIP is the communication tool of choice not only for many consumers but also for many businesses. VoIP applications have made it easy for many to keep in touch with work contacts and family at very low costs wherever the caller is and whenever it’s needed.
Skype and Viber are two of the most widely used options for VoIP. Their reputations for reliability make them top choices for desktop and mobile users.
Lately, however, many newspapers and social networks, including the Gulf Business magazine, have reported that the Viber service has been blocked in the UAE (as it did in Pakistan's Sindh province, but for different reasons)—and thus, spurring a series of comments and worries in the online community. As the news shook VoIP enthusiasts, UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has immediately jumped in to provide an official statement to explain the reasons for the block.
According to the TRA, in fact, both Skype (News - Alert) and Viber still do not have a license to operate in the UAE. The only companies that have obtained the required permits are Etisalat and du. They are, at the moment, the only businesses that can provide telecommunication services in the country. Therefore, they are the only ones that can also provide VoIP services.
Last year, TRA had already issued a statement clarifying that its VoIP regulatory policy “allows only the licensees (i.e. Etisalat (News - Alert) and du) to provide telecommunications services in the UAE including VoIP services.” Therefore, the block is simply the result of the country’s telecommunication policy.
Skype and Viber are not the only affected services. Apple (News - Alert) customers, in fact, are unable to have Apple proprietary communication app, FaceTime on their iPhones and iPads to connect with other users. There are also worries that the popular service WhatsApp, lately acquired by Facebook (News - Alert), might soon not be able to be used in UAE as it is rumored that it will soon launch its own voice call system free to users, as mentioned in a Gulf Business post earlier in the week.
In fact, some screenshots of the upcoming user interface that leaked on the Web show a new language translation feature to be used when receiving a call. The voice call plugin should be available to the app’s 600 million users very soon. After all, already last February the app’s CEO and founder Jan Koum had announced that “We’re adding voice to WhatsApp so people can stay in touch with friends and loved ones no matter where they are in the world.” The option should be available first for Android (News - Alert) and iOS devices with BlackBerry and Windows Phones following at a later date.
TRA has declared in its statement that the policy only allows licensees to provide communication services in UAE with a ban on online global services has not been changed. UAE consumers can still access Skype services through “du” and it seems that also Etisalat will soon provide wits subscribers with the same option. This is possible as the licensee has the right to provide these services though their own permits if they seek approval and fulfill the regulatory and technical requirements established by the TRA.
TRA policy does not extend to text messages, however. In fact, UAE consumers can freely use Skype texting services and WhatsApp text-based messaging service. Those continue to be available to all users.
Edited by Alisen Downey