You'll be using Skype legally really soon, and by really soon we mean anytime between tomorrow and never. (Pic by Sammy Dallal / The National)
The Khaleej Times have a piece today saying that
a new licensing system to allow internet-based phone calls is just around the corner, according to a statement from the
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.
Internet calling has been banned and/or regulated out of existence in the UAE since 2006, because the TRA consider it to be a competitor to traditional telecom networks, and therefore requiring a UAE telecom license to be legal. How do you get one of those licenses? Well, the TRA is working on a new licensing system. And it has been since 2006.
Here is a short collection of quotes from TRA management on the introduction of internet calling services in the UAE:
May 2007: "We are working on a phased approach to allow VoIP to be introduced to the local market"
September 2007: "We have opened VoIP to the licensed operators for national calls and
are doing a consultation to again license operators for international
calls...Gradually we will then be looking to the VOIP companies to operate in the UAE"
March 2008: "We are doing a lot of consultation and we are looking into what's
happening around the world with regard to VoIP. However, we are taking
it very seriously"
September 2008: "Once we finish our work, then these providers can come to the UAE. We are working on it and we will announce it in due time."
November 2008: "We are working on it. We are discussing it right now, and we are working with the industry."
May 2009: "We are working to regulate it. Currently, we are working on a
regulatory framework. It's not finalised yet. It's just taking time
because it's not easy to do."
August 2009: "Both [etisalat and du] are free to explore ways to introduce VoIP services which may lead to lower phone call rates."
October 2009: "I'm in discussions with the mobile operators regarding the introduction of VoIP," the TRA will "upgrade our VoIP policy soon."
January 2010: "The
TRA is in the process of implementing a new VoIP policy...It is expected that this
policy will be published soon, and will be made available on the TRA
website."
Statement given above though facts, can easily be classified as fiction writing. As long as telecommunication is under the total control of goverenment of UAE, and with no scope for private international parties to compete, voip service will remain a distance dream to all those hoping to see the introduction in UAE in the near future.
If at all this facility comes, I would like to forewarn all those hopefull that the dream of cheap voip facility will be a dream which will never materilise. Look at the International call priceing of the present service provider to the sub continent, it is more than 3 times the rates as compared to the rates that is that is charged from sub continet countries to UAE
Great article!
Our industry is full of hype - and typically organizations pre-launch solutions into the market that have yet to be tested. Examples of this are numerous, Microsoft is the best for doing this. But VoIP has matured over the years, and today one can make the statement it is actually a sound technology which is reliable.
But great article...