UAE Authorities Block Skype August 31, 2006
Posted by O.J. in Dubai, News, Technology & Gadgets.trackback
Many Dubai residents are infuriated over Etisalat’s recent decision to block Voice Over IP (VoiP) applications such as Skype and Vonage all over the country; including free zones such as Media and Internet City. For a country claiming to be the Business and Technology hub of the Middle East, I think this is definitely a move backwards. The motive behind the decision may be based on financial grounds. Out of the 2.5 million people living in the UAE, 1.6 million are expatriates. There are more phones than people: 1.1 million land lines (operated by Etisalat) and 2.9 million mobile phones. The motive may also be one of political control. Skype automatically encrypts conversations, making it costly and difficult to tap conversations or determine calling patterns.
Many institutions, corporations, and individuals all over the world use VoiP applications such as Skype or Vonage to cut-down on long distance calling expenses. The Bank I work for actually just approved the implementation of a VoiP system on all our networks across Jordan because long distance calling rates are sky-high and these applications really help reduce communication costs while just as clear and easy to use as telephones. So while poorer nations like Jordan are trying to work WITH VOIP technology, wealthier nations such as Dubai are prohibiting it.
Etisalat is the UAE’s telecommunications monopoly. Angered Dubai residents have taken action against Etisalat, and have put together a petition to try and get the UAE authorities to reverse their decision. You can find the petition on-line here.
This is outrages I would expect this from a communist country or a country that is not pro development and is not marketing themselves as the business hub of the Middle East.
VOIP is the future of communication and I do believe till the communication companies figure out a way to make the markups they are currently making they will fight it.
I do hope with the Middle Eastern countries joining the WTO and most monopolies slowly fading away we will see less of this but in the mean time expect this to happen in Jordan also very soon.
Well, considering the fact that Jordan Telecom already lost its monopolistic status, I’m hoping we don’t see this in Jordan. Too many influential corporations in Jordan have already begun implementing VoiP systems, so I doubt the governement would make any move similar to that of the UAE’s.
There is a saying which goes the one who doesnt understand it, bans it. It applies to political decisions, however in practicality also to the dull minds, to the ones without any vision of the future. Not only that they block their companys future, they earn the anthypathy of the people, that is the worst thing any establisment can do. As it may be their day to make their dollars not just from petrol or telecommunications, one day when petrol loses its importance things will change. The business decisions making this country a dream holiday resort for the future will not survive without the backing up of supporting services. UAE goes one step to the back and a big one, both politically and economically in the long term. Only hope is that there are some bright people who has guts and courage to stand up in this country. Good luck citizens of the year 1984.
Hello,
After travelling in Dubai (UAE) and in China, I found a software that unblock Skype and censored contents in some countries.
I know Skype is blocked or there is censor in the following countries : Belize, China, Columbia, Cuba, Jordan, UAE …
After searching internet, I found a way to make calls and to access censored content in those countries using a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
How does it works ?
A VPN encrypte the data you send on internet to a US IP adress (tunnel). This way your Internet Services Provider can’t detect you are using Skype or another VoIP software ! It allow you access to censored content and geographical locked contents (i.e: listening radio on pandora.com , watching TV streams for US residents, …).
There is a lot of VPN softwares, the first I tried was VPNaccounts. I didn’t like it because it took a lot of time for activation, it was expensive and helpdesk support was very slow.
A friend of mine who lives in Belize told me about another VPN software called Witopia personnalVPN.
Now I am using Witopia personnalVPN. It is easier to use (you just have to launch the software before launching Skype), faster and cheaper than all other VPN softwares I tried.
It costs 39.99$ and works perfectly.
You can download it from the editor’s website :
http://www.witopia.personnalvpn.helpnote.net/
Works on Windows and Mac.
I hope this post will help people who are in those countries and reducing censorship !