UAE revises VOIP laws

The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has revised the region's voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) regulatory policy, reports ITP.net.

The new regulations allow licensees, such as Du and Etisalat, to offer VOIP services. The TRA states that only licensees may provide VOIP services as it is considered a regulated activity.

“This measure is set in place in order to protect telecom customers, as if a company is not registered with us, we cannot intervene or help should a problem arise. We have been working with Skype and other VOIP providers to see if their services could be established here in the UAE," says Mohamed Al Ghanim, director general at the TRA.

Griffin Internet has offloaded part of its services portfolio and customer base it gained through its acquisition of communications provider Fused Group, states Channel Web.

The ISP has sold off the VOIP services to broadband provider Worldwide IP Services, which trades as Microtalk in the UK.

Andrew Dickinson, managing director of Griffin, explains: "The vast majority of the VOIP customer base sold to worldwide is made up of individual consumers, many of which are overseas. Since Griffin is UK and channel-only, the disposal will have very little impact.”

Usage of VOIP services via mobile phones could be set to rise in line with the roll-out of 4G networks over the next five years, says Telappliant.

Analysts claim higher data transfer speeds provided by 4G technologies such as LTE and WiMax, will drastically improve mobile broadband user experience.

“A mobile phone may be the best way for individuals in rural communities to access broadband when the 800MHz comes into use for telephony in 2014,” says O2 chief executive Ronan Dunne.