<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi,<div>We in The Gambia are also experiencing issues surrounding Skype, Voip,... A few weeks ago, the regulator abruptly announced a banning of skype and other voip services in cyber cafes (where many Gambians access the internet) which was quickly followed by a strong endorsement by the government following a major public outcry. The regulator has since drafted a regulation to enforce their initial pronouncement. This is quite problematic and we believe both the regulator and the government need to be better educated on this matter. There is a strong telecom bias in both agencies. There are major governance issues in this country and the internet environment here is quite challenging.</div><div><br></div><div>Gabriel</div><div>ISOC Gambia </div><div><br><div><div>On May 27, 2013, at 2:42 PM, Alexander Blom wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><font face="Arial">Hello Edwin,<br>
<br>
Together with the Bangla Desh chapter, we developed a smartphone
app which can test whether your local isp blocks applications
like skype. This works very well if you want to get statistics
on the different isp's, we have run around 10,000 tests with it
already Please check our website <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://open.internet.nl/">http://open.internet.nl</a> (it
has English) or download the app (English spoken) from Google
Play store "Open Internet NL" Despite the NL for Netherlands we
can capture the results of your local test right away and send
them to you. So try it out and let me know if I can be of
further help.<br>
<br>
Cheers, Alex Blom<br>
Treasurer ISOC Netherlands<br>
<br>
</font>
<div class="moz-signature">
<div class="Section1"><br><div><span style="font-family:Arial" lang="EN-US"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial" lang="EN-US"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
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On 5/27/2013 11:18 AM, Edwin A. Opare wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:CANeGSFmnWKU_xz083JWfwf+AzXzKV=ZOCjcAvCa_RRf7GWcz4w@mail.gmail.com" type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">I think this a clear Net Neutrality issue. Eric
like you rightly said, I also think we should tackle the issue
from the Regulator level with evidence to back our position and
ISOC Ghana should lead the charge in this endeavor.
<div>
<br>
</div>
<div>Best,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>EAO</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div><br>
</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, May 27, 2013 at 8:58 AM,
Evelyn A. Lewis <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:elewis@sbtsgroup.com" target="_blank">elewis@sbtsgroup.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote">
<div lang="EN-US">
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span>HI Eric,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Not the same experience as
you in Ghana in Sierra Leone, but noted that it is
supposed to be illegal if the Gateway is
considered a monopoly or legal if liberalized. I
think the key thing is in the commercial usage of
skype in voice.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Much as they try to
regulate this, I think those states banning VOIP
are fighting a losing battle unless they want to
become police states.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>VOIP as an application has
so many routes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>It’s inevitable that voice
traffic gradually has to begin to accept its
permanent state as billing under a converged
service plan and figuring in ARPU as such.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>I think ISOC has a role to
play here in educating regulators. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span>Thanks,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Evelyn</span></p><div><span> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><span> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><span> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><span> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
<div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>From:</span></b><span>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org" target="_blank">chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org</a>
[mailto:<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org" target="_blank">chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Eric Akumiah<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, May 27, 2013 3:45 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> ISOC Chapter Delegates<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Chapter-delegates] Shutdown
of Skype on our Mobile Broadband Internet
Access</span></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="h5"><div> <br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
<div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Hi everyone,</span></p>
</div>
<div><div><span> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span>We have been
experience a shut down of Skype by some of
our Mobile Broadband operators and I want
to know if any chapter has experience such
a thing and what measures were used to
address it. We intent complain to the
regulator in the Ministry of
Communications here in a position paper.
We will like some input from any chapter
who has had such an experience.</span></p>
</div>
<div><div><span> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Kind regards</span></p>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Eric</span></p>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span>President,</span></p>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Ghana Chapter </span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
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</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</div>
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