KUWAIT: The government's latest regulation requiring local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to stop the unauthorized use of international call lines using the internet's 'Voice Over IP' [Internet Telephony] has received opposition from both internet users and ISPs. Speaking anonymously, an official of one of the local internet providers noted that many customers are using less expensive Voice Over IP, as it is significantly lower in price compared to services provided by telecommunication companies and the Ministry of Communications.
"With the information revolution, communications all over the world has become easier, cheaper and user friendly. In Kuwait, on the contrary, communication rates and tariffs are extremely high compared to other countries. Kuwait's rate is one of the highest in the world and that is why people here are resorting to using Voice Over IP," the official noted.
"Even if it's hard for us to abide by the ministry's orders, we cannot defy the ministry memo, it reached our office already. They even stressed other restrictions which have been there and we knew of long ago," he added. The official admitted to receiving the memo in which the ministry stressed to banned sites offensive to the country's norms, such as pornography sites, politically motivated sites , blogs that criticized the Amir, and photos and videos that are offending to other religions and sects. Asked if the ban could affect their regular customers, the official noted, "In a way it will affect our business, but it will not be so drastic, since we are talking only about the VOIP," he added.
"Other restrictions were there for a long time. But such requests from the ministry cannot be ignored, as they are the authority that allows us to operate our business and gives us our license. Whether we like it or not, we shall abide and we already cut the services related to VOIP" one internet service provider added. Local ISP's are now required to insure that clients do not use their services to carry out international calls, as per new regulations released by MoC Minister Salem Al-Othaina. Al-Othaina's decision would cancel all licenses the ministry provides to local ISPs, and requires that the ministry provides one-year licenses under new terms and conditions, if they fail to abide by the regulations.
"The decree contains 17 articles that detail the basic regulations that organize the process of work for licensed ISPs in Kuwait", reads a statement released by the ministry last week. As per the new conditions, local ISPs are not allowed to execute or facilitate an international call made through any means of telecommunications without prior written approval from the ministry. Furthermore, ISPs are required to provide necessary software and hardware to stop such telecommunication methods from taking place. A provider who violates this stipulation faces penalties that include a fine ranging from five thousand to 20 thousand Kuwaiti Dinars, as well as a one month suspension of service or even the cancellation of their license.
International calls using internet lines were long ago made illegal, though the MoC has failed to stop the illegal proliferation of these services, which continued to operate. The continued operation could be the reason why the 'ball' has been passed through to local internet companies. The internet based calls are significantly cheaper compared to the telecom companies and ministry charges. For example, charge per minute for a call to the Philippines cost 232 fils, while another telecom company charges subscribers 215 fils per minute.
But there was a time when calling the Philippines cost customers about 500 fils.
With the internet calling system, the cost for calling India is only ten fils per minute, 60 fils to the Philippines and 100 fils to other countries. Also, there are some Voice Over IP systems which can be used free of charge, such as Skype and others which will not be available soon or have already been cut. "You cannot blame us for using the internet-based call service, because when you compared the price to 'legal' services offered by three different telecom companies, they are really expensive, so why spend on an outrageously expensive service when you can call economically using internet-based providers? But with this new directive, I don't know what to do anymore, or why other countries can use the services free and we cannot use it here. It's the wickedest thing they have done to us internet users, for what is the use of internet technology?" one customer asked.
© Kuwait Times 2012
