VOIP disrupts national security efforts

Australian VOIP service providers must keep interception channels open for law enforcement, following a legislative review which IT minister Helen Coonan has endorsed, says Computer World.

Recognising the disruptive nature of VOIP technology, the federal government undertook a review late last year to assess whether changes need to be made to the Telecommunications Act, to facilitate wire-tapping by law enforcement.

The review, which is currently before the minister, has recommended keeping VOIP channels open and is in line with similar moves in the US, where the government has amended the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act to extend regulation to VOIP services.

With VOIP service now inevitable for Fiji, the question of whether the licence should be exclusive to the existing telecom service providers or opened up to competition is now being debated, says Fiji Live.

The issue was discussed last week as government met stakeholders in the communications industry - from the private sector as well as existing telcos - in an effort to introduce and explain its newest VOIP policy.

While government is hinting at opening up the market for VOIP, the existing telcos believe otherwise.

To continue the expansion of VOIP services, there is a requirement for more wholesale providers to supply the burgeoning market, it has been suggested, reports Telappliant.

Online weblog VOIP Monitor highlighted the potential for wholesale providers, saying: "VOIP service providers cannot reach everywhere without the help of wholesale carrier providers."

"This is precisely why there is a requirement for wholesale VOIP providers who can further make resellers fulfil the needs of the end consumers."