Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP facilities are not available in the UAE. The nation’s telecommunication service providers have informed the residents of this restriction. The VoIP services will not be regulated in the UAE until they are according to the nation’s licensing criteria. That was conveyed by du and Etisalat.
Is (VoIP) Skype banned in UAE?
The government has banned the Skype app because it provides unlicensed VoIP services in the restricted facilities category in the United Arab Emirates’ regulatory system. The ban was placed because the residents complained to the authorities about the low-quality calls on the VoIP services.
A previously approved legal statement on the UAE’s website of Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) conveys that VoIP services are considered a segment of UAE’s regulated facilities.
The TRA has offered licensed VoIP service providers permission to offer services on different networks. Firms willing to provide these services should work with the UAE’s licensed operators in this area.
As substitutes, both du and Etisalat provide approved VoIP apps called Botim and C’ME as segments of “unlimited” voice and video call services that you can utilize with a monthly fee.
The local media conveyed that UAE’s Federal National Council’s staff member requested TRA to lift the ban, considering it unreasonable for the UAE population. But the TRA’s higher management replied that they have been banning VoIP facilities for safety and cybercrime reasons.
How To Use VoIP Calls In UAE?
There is a new video calling app that people can legally use. Moreover, they can utilise it without a Virtual Private Network. The app is known as Yzer. It is an app that runs on a cloud because it provides voice, video calling, text sending, group chat and automatic translations.
The app offers these facilities in 16 languages, including Arabic and Farsi. Also, the languages consist of Hindi and Chinese and many more. The Dubai-based telecommunication company called du presently provides the app in various plans. For example, the consumers can download the app for Android and Apple for Dhs five per day, or Dhs50 a month.
The owner of Yzer announced that they are hopeful for the VoIP app that they are providing to the UAE’s population. It has reliable technology and the latest features and the owner is excited to launch this high-tech product for the UAE. Also, the interest in the app from a big stakeholder in the UAE market is because of the high demand for the app in the nation and internationally.
One of the reasons for introducing Yzer in the market is that worldwide voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services presently are deactivated in the UAE, including placing calls on Skype and Whatsapp.
There are Talks Going on for Lifting Bans on the VoIP Services in the UAE
There are still negotiations to lift the ban on famous Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) facilities like Whatsapp in UAE. Another service that is under consideration is FaceTime. As per the nation’s chief cyber security official, WhatsApp was working for a specific time, and the government was utilizing it for performing tests to find glitches in its security.
This testing took place by joining forces with Whatsapp company itself. There are specific regulations that the authorities want to put in place, and they are working on them. The country’s cyber security chief conveyed that.
Discussions about lifting a ban on some Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services like WhatsApp calls and FaceTime are still under consideration in the UAE, according to the country’s top cyber security chief. But, he is hopeful about the VoIP service’s future in the country.
Dubai’s residents were permitted to utilize VoIP facilities because of the lockdown as most people were working from home, and there was an increase in the demand for these services. But Whatsapp is still banned for voice and video calling in the UAE because of security concerns. Also, Apple’s FaceTime app is prohibited.
As an alternative, most UAE’s residents utilize billed services from either of the nation’s telecommunication service providers like Etisalat and Du.
So What is the Solution?
Citizens of the UAE can utilize a new video calling app called Yzer. They can utilize it without a Virtual Private Network. It is an app that operates on a cloud. It provides voice and video calling features. Also, it offers text sending, group chat and automatic translations. The app offers these features in 16 languages. They include Arabic and Farsi languages. Also, they offer services in Hindi and Chinese. The names of two other approved apps are Botim and C’ME.
There are still discussions to lift the ban on famous Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) apps like Whatsapp in UAE. Another app that is receiving attention is FaceTime. But as per the Emirate’s chief cyber security official, the government was allowing WhatsApp for a specific time, and it was for performing tests to find glitches in its security.
As a substitute for VoIP apps, the majority of UAE’s population utilize billed services from either of the UAE’s telecommunication service providers like Etisalat and Du.
The overall ban was placed on VoIP services because of security reasons. Also, it will assist the telecommunication companies in implementing the solutions that suit them the most. So the citizens can enjoy reliable, smooth and secure calls on the licensed VoIP apps.
That will make the communication process safe in the future. With these guidelines about the ban on UAE’s VoIP services you have a better understanding about the entire situation. You can try out the Emirate’s allowed VoIP apps that can be helpful in the meantime.
Conclusion - Why VoIP Banned in UAE?
Worldwide Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP services are not working in the UAE. The country’s carrier service providers have announced to the residents of this security restriction.
The authorities will regulate the VoIP facilities in the UAE until they are as per the nation’s licensing criteria. That was announced by du and Etisalat.
The government is also applying a ban on the Skype app because it gave unlicensed VoIP services that came in the category of restricted facilities in the United Arab Emirates’ legal system.
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