Service no closer to launch in UAE

Dubai: Nine months after the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) welcomed invitations from voice over internet protocol (VoIP) companies to offer services in the UAE, Skype still is no closer to offering its free video calling in the country, Gulf News has learned.

A senior Skype official confirmed that the global video phone services provider based in Luxembourg is not in negotiations with the TRA.

"Skype is not in discussions with the UAE's TRA," said Rouzbeh Pasha, Skype's Head of Middle East and Africa, on Thursday.

"Generally speaking, we're always excited when people use Skype regardless of where they are. Skype connects people from all around the world through video and voice calls via multiple mobile devices," Pasha said. "All you need to use Skype is the Skype software and an internet connection."

For now, applications such as Skype are considered illegal in the UAE because they are not officially approved nor licensed by authorities.

In March, the TRA said that it was revising its policies to allow approved licensees "to offer VoIP as a technology…offering VoIP is considered a regulated activity which requires a licence. Therefore, only licensees may provide VoIP services... However, they [VoIP companies such as Skype] can always approach and collaborate with the licensees to legally provide their services."