Egypt Bans Skype on Mobile VoIP

See Reuters article after my comments:
 
To be clear, the mobile operators are banning those using their sloppy GPRS and pricey USB modems.  I am really wondering if the NTRA was driving force or the Mobile operators who act as a group of thieves in my way of thinking. At same time I noticed Vodafone offering "call world wide for 1.99 LE per minute". Fine print is call a number and follow instructions for 0.30 LE per call -- coincidence with timing?

However, to now no affect on ADSL users. So you should be able to use your Skype enabled smart phone with any hotspot wifi connection?

I wonder why they don't work with Skype, and other similar services, instead of fighting them. Shades of Napster shutdown only to see rise of Kazza, Limewire etc., and of course Itunes the legal music gateway.

I use Skype but mostly to call mobiles and landlines overseas. Seems when I need to contact family etc. they are not on line or I send SMS as hate to type on cell phone. Of course I have a Skype account. Now here is some strange anomalies within the Skype prices. Call to Canada is $0.021 / minute but a SMS is $0.112 per minute (any short SMS is 1 minute min). For instance called my sister in Canada and talked for 9.5 minutes for cost of $0.25 or 25 cents. Call within Egypt (no reason to do this) price is 10X call per minute to Canada. One thing I have not determined with Skype is if she got charged for incoming call like damn mobile phone companies do. Charge me for long distance call and person receiving as well. Like I said "bloody thieves".

Let's say they block Skype on ADSL net - well be sure there are work around's.


Another point regarding net security in Egypt. Some months back a decree was issued to ban all porn sites. This has not happened but take care as "big brother" is watching and monitoring site activity and you. How do you think they caught the couple into swinging parties some time back. From their emails that's how. Obviously doing key word searches and intercepts on local net traffic. So take care.




According to Reuters:

"The ban will apply to the three mobile operators in Egypt -- Mobinil, Etisalat Egypt and Vodafone Egypt -- who offer internet access for computers via USB and other mobile modems, as well as via mobile phone."

"The ban is on Skype on mobile internet, not on fixed, and this is due to the fact it is against the law since it bypasses the legal gateway," said Amr Badawy, the executive president of the National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA).

Under Egyptian law, international calls must pass through a network controlled by majority state-owned Telecom Egypt, which this week reported disappointing earnings.

While only mentioning Skype by name, Badawy did not rule out extending the ban to other services in the future.

"We are targeting any illegal voice traffic on the mobile (internet)," Badawy said, adding that the ban was communicated to the three mobile operators earlier this week. "Any traffic outside the international gateway is against the law."

What's interesting is that according to the article, the NTRA had "tolerated" mobile internet telephony until they recently saw a drop in international call volumes. They then pushed them to tell Egypt's operators to enforce the ban. apparently, the United Arab Emirates said on Monday it would not yet give VoIP licenses to international companies like Skype. Is there any free market competition in the Middle East?

Hmmm...