Will UAE ban Facebook

In UAE VoiP services are regulated and can only be offered by licensed operators. Hence the fate of Facebook in the UAE hangs in the balance due to its tie-up with internet telephony company Skype. Standalone Skype software has been banned for years in UAE; however questions remain whether the same ban applies to internet calling offered within the Facebook platform. Facebook has recently unveiled the tie-up with Skype to bolster free services offered to its 750 million users around the globe, sparking debate once again in the UAE where voices over internet protocol services are illegal. When questioned, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority reiterated its previously position that VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol, services are regulated and can only be offered by licensed operators and all services for Internet calls provided by third parties fall within the scope of this policy. As voice calls provided by Skype are considered to be a regulated activity, such services have to be provided by a licensee, it is illegal to use such software to make calls, unless this third party is licensed by the TRA to provide such services or a licensee provides the service in collaboration with this third party," said TRA. The policy also gives du and Etisalat the right to block any unlicensed party believed to be providing illegal VoIP services in the UAE. Sometime back In its revised regulatory policy on VoIP, released December 30, 2009, the TRA stated that "during such technologies may bring some short-term advantages to consumers, if they are introduced and allowed to be provided on an unregulated basis at too early a stage in the development of a liberalizing regime, they can actually be counterproductive as regards consumer interests and limit the process of introducing sustainable and meaningful competition." More actions are expected by the authorities sometime soon.