Business | Telecoms

International calls over internet in UAE soon

It is expected that the new service would offer cheaper pricing of international calls

By Ahmed A. Namatalla, Staff Reporter
Published: 08:23 January 31, 2010

Image Credit: Gulf News
du has reported a disruption in internet services but says it's working quickly to restore them

Dubai: The Telecom Regulation Authority (TRA) is on a sector liberalisation drive that may see the introduction of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services by etisalat and du this year.

Al Emarat Al Youm reported on Sunday that the companies plan to launch their services by July, but officials at both companies declined to confirm or deny the report. TRA said in early January it plans to unveil a new VoIP policy "soon."

"It's not an issue of allowing VoIP," TRA Director General Mohammad Al Ganem told Gulf News. "It's an issue of regulation and consumer protection."

Al Ghanim said VoIP operators have been blocked inside UAE because the mechanisms do not exist to regulate them. Consumers have no outlet to direct complaints in case of poor service or other issues, he added.

VoIP companies allow users to make phone calls and send text messages to mobiles and land-lines using the internet for free or at costs well below those charged by traditional network operators.

"It's a case of having the right infrastructure to do so and du already has an all IP network and etisalat is nearly there," said Irfan Ellam, telecom analyst at Al Mal Capital. "It's a strategic choice for the business in order to maintain revenues and profitability."

Comments (21)

Added 18:48 January 31, 2010

Great Service by Govt. we all well come and thank full for this Service. Its very help full for less income residence of U.A.E. Great move.

Anonymous, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:11 January 31, 2010

Will it be free or cheeper than mobile connections? Please answer.

Haseeb Allah JumaKhan, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:10 January 31, 2010

I'll believe it when i see it :-(

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:09 January 31, 2010

If etisalat & du bringing prices down of International calls over internet, its better for these 2 providers. Otherwise people will use other CHEAP VOIP which is available n d market.

Srikanth Iyer, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 17:28 January 31, 2010

I am hearing this for a very long time, is this really going to happen ??or just simply giving us a hope, for me I have already told my family members to call me back when they see my miss call and calling from my home country is comparitively very much cheaper than the calls from here.

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 17:12 January 31, 2010

Am not impressed at all coz dis i have been using since its started,its just UAE who always announces late..when i was in UAE i already used VOIP, so it doesnt make any difference .. plz try to attract better next time !

Abdul Basit, Karachi, Pakistan

Added 16:20 January 31, 2010

Better late than never ! However both Etisalat & DU should offer competitive rates in the first place, otherwise people will continue using other VOIP services.

Sunil Parkhi, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 15:59 January 31, 2010

Wow...Its too late, such well develop counrtry...but still good move towords give and take policy like consumer and provider and other bussiness just like Computer,Latop,Head phones, and 3G phones... Best of luck towords success... Despretly waiting for legal calls at Voip...

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 15:24 January 31, 2010

We are heartly welcoming this decision even it is very late. Most of contries started this service and gives the service very cheap. Here it is too expensive. We congratulate the goverment for this move.

Pious, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Added 14:34 January 31, 2010

People are using cheaper VOIP already by bypassing so called bans by telecom companies, if they will allow the VOIP , they will not make a huge difference in prices as we are already paying through other ways. so i would like to suggest them not to start this service, we are happy with our existing cracked VOIP service.

Anonymous, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates