etisalat,du to provide telecommunications services

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has announced that the Tele-communications Law and the TRA's VoIP regulatory policy allows only the Licensees (i.e. "etisalat" and "du") to provide telecommunications services in the UAE including VOIP services. This policy has not been amended. It added, "As to what the licensees have done in unblocking Skype's website http://www.skype.com in the UAE, this action does not change the position of the TRA or amend the policy as this service is considered a Regulated Activity, therefore, it must be provided by a licensee." "Should the service be provided through a partnership with a third party, both Licensees must seek approval to provide such service after fulfilling the regulatory and technical requirements of the TRA, which has not happened in the case of Skype. VOIP services through Skype are still unauthorised," the statement said.