Telecom body to unveil VoIP policy today

The UAE Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) is all set to announce its VoIP policy today, which would bring down call charges for consumers and open telecom markets.

Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) is a general term for voice communications over IP networks such as the internet or other packet-switched networks. The technology can be used along with applications like Skype to make calls over the internet. Such applications are at present not downloadable or accessible in UAE.

Skype's chief executive, who was at the Abu Dhabi Media Summit last week, also said that the UAE's block on its service was "short-sighted" for a country built as a trade and immigration hub, but also said his company is open to discussions with the government. Another Skype official had earlier said to Emirates Business that VoIP services will help operators grow their average revenue per user even as growth from fixed and mobile phone services stagnates.

Jean-Jacques Sahel, Director (Government and Regulatory Affairs) from Skype Communications Emea, said: "We are seeing a shift in attitude towards VoIP. Operators consider it safe and realise that VoIP helps bring prices down for both voice and video calls across continents. In the Middle East, it is still prohibited in many parts of region, but the technology is beginning to be recognised."

The UAE's telecommunications regulator had been blocking the use of VoIP to safeguard revenue from international calls for the country's two major telecom operators – etisalat and du.

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