[Chapter-delegates] Shutdown of Skype on our Mobile Broadband Internet Access

[Christian de Larrinaga]

Does the University of Gambia's departments of Economics,
Telecommunications, or Computer Science have interest or capacity to
provide some local research and measuring of the economic / societal impact?



best


C



GABRIEL LATJOR NDOW wrote:
> Hi,
> 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.
> 
> Gabriel
> ISOC Gambia 
> 
> On May 27, 2013, at 2:42 PM, Alexander Blom wrote:
> 
>> Hello Edwin,
>>
>> 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 http://open.internet.nl (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.
>>
>> Cheers, Alex Blom
>> Treasurer ISOC Netherlands
>>
>>
>>  
>>  
>> On 5/27/2013 11:18 AM, Edwin A. Opare wrote:
>>> 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.
>>>
>>> Best,
>>>
>>> EAO
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, May 27, 2013 at 8:58 AM, Evelyn A. Lewis <elewis at sbtsgroup.com> wrote:
>>> HI Eric,
>>>
>>> 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.
>>>
>>> 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.
>>>
>>> VOIP as an application has so many routes.
>>>
>>> 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.
>>>
>>> I think ISOC has a role to play here in educating regulators.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Evelyn
>>>
>>>  
>>>  
>>>  
>>>  
>>> From: chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org [mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org] On Behalf Of Eric Akumiah
>>> Sent: Monday, May 27, 2013 3:45 AM
>>> To: ISOC Chapter Delegates
>>> Subject: [Chapter-delegates] Shutdown of Skype on our Mobile Broadband Internet Access
>>>
>>>  
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>>  
>>> 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.
>>>
>>>  
>>> Kind regards
>>>
>>> Eric
>>>
>>> President,
>>>
>>> Ghana Chapter 
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>> _______________________________________________
>> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
>> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
>> Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
> Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org