Dubai: Etisalat and du, the UAE's two telecom operators, are ready to launch international VoIP (voice over internet protocol) as soon as the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) issues a policy, officials of both operators told Gulf News.
Mohammad Al Ganem, director-general of the TRA, said the authority is in talks with the two operators on VoIP and is "pushing" for international calls. He said the service for calls made locally is already available.
Othman Sultan, chief executive of du said, "VoIP is great. We are ready for it." He said that the technology is already in use but the framework for the use of the service is up to the TRA to decide.
When asked whether the operator would be willing to go ahead and allow the service on its network, Sultan said, "Of course. Whatever makes the customer's life easier, more convenient and more valuable, we are ready to do it."
"It is up to the TRA. We are following their rules and regulations. Once they say we should do it, then we will do it. It is not for etisalat to decide," Omar Al Muzaki, vice-president of product marketing told Gulf News.
Currently, the use of VoIP is mainly associated with certain websites including Skype, which has not been issued a licence to operate in the UAE. "No entity in the UAE can provide telecommunication services to the public unless it is licensed. Regardless of the way it provides it services, it has to be licensed," said Al Ganem. He specified that the authority is not preventing the use of a service that the population has a right to. "It is a licensing issue."
Speaking about international tariffs, Al Ganem said prices have already dropped and if VoIP were officiated, it would not cause a change, however it would be up to the operators to decide.
