Looks like Egypt doesn’t mind being on the list of the 12 Internet Enemies. A few days ago, people reported problems logging in to Skype through their Vodafone 3G stick modems. That didn’t arise much suspicion, since websites and applications seem to behave erratically when connected through the modem.
This morning, a call placed to Vodafone’s customer service indicated that Telecom Egypt is going to block Skype in Egypt, and that it’s out of their hands. After repeated calls from various people to Vodafone’s customer service, they were told “Skype is being blocked since 13th March based on an order from Telecom Egypt.”
Up until now logging in to Skype via iPhone and iPod touch through Vodafone and other networks is allowed.
Whether this will be a permanent decision, or it will be reversed like the much-debated Internet Fair Usage Policy – only time will tell!
Update
Vodafone Egypt confirms blockage. Indirectly confirms for other mobile networks but up till now, no official word from either Mobinil or Etisalat.
It (Skype) is blocked on any of Egyptian mobile network in Egypt & you can’t use it through mobile internet or data SIM based on NTRA decision but you can use it through Vodafone ADSL or any ADSL service normally.
I have a lot of friends in Egypt using Skype, and they are able to log in normally. Maybe the customer service representative doesn't know what he was talking about.
I'm using Etisalat 3g and Tedata dsl and so far Skype seems to be working perfectly. Made a call to south africa a few minutes ago
Agree with all so far, I've used TEData & LinkDSL . Both have Skype working fine so far ..
I think nobody is gonna know without an official response about it .. to block VoIP Services or not :/
If it's true then we are expecting a fight like the one we made for the free unlimited internet packages … and ha ha .. let them block skype there're billions of other software that ppl can use .. how the hell they are thinking anyway?
It works normally so far
No its confirmed guys, its now officially blocked from vodafone USB. and the best is yet to come :(
I was pulling my hair last few days cause skype kept on refusing to connect and displays the error “P2P connect failed”. now I see why :(
First, Telecom Egypt is not the regulator of mobile operators in Egypt. Even if “Egypt blocks Skype”, Telecom Egypt cannot tell mobile operators to “flick the switch”.
Second, Telecom Egypt is a management partner in Vodafone, so they have a say over what services are allowed and what are not. Did you bother trying the other operators ? Shocker, Skype works on Mobinil 3g, link dsl, etisalat, etc, etc, etc.
Please check your facts before posting sensationalist articles please.
or you can use fring.com on your phones where skype, icq, gtalk, msn, twitter … are all enabled ;)
Telecom Egypt is not the regulator, but it falls under the Egyptian NTRA just like all the others – which DOES regulate all telecommunications in Egypt. Telecom Egypt is the parent company of TEData, and if TEData and the other 3 class A ISPs (Egynet, LINKdotNET, and NOL) block Skype then it will be blocked in Egypt. It's perfectly understandable that a customer service representative got confused between all the different arms of the Egyptian government's telecom companies and regulators. Having said that, Skype still works on normal broadband connections and as far as I know the other mobile networks as well.
Scarily, blocking VOIP is possible – it's illegal in UAE and severely regulated in Korea and India. There are ways around this of course – new VOIP software pops up everyday and as a worst case scenario you can even set up your own Ventrilo or Teamspeak server – but whether this'll actually come to pass we'll just have to wait and see. I remember when rumours first started going around about the broadband limits people didn't believe it either.
NTRA always stand in support of TelecomEgypt and its monopoly.
They even prevent mobile networks from lowering the rates for mobile calls.
skype doesnt work on Mobinil as of 14/03/10 but is stil working on etisalat, for now
I don't see why Egypt would completely block Skype, I'm pretty sure the rep just didn't know what he was talking about.
well the thing about bloacking skype is quiet simple… well Vodafone and mobinil or any telecom operator in the world could act as the victim from those bannings; while in fact they telecommunication companies are the biggest winners from a move like this. the idea is quiet simple, if the users subscribe to unlimtied data plans on there cell phones. and everyone has a skype account, then suddenly no one will be using the mobile networks to place a call. users will simply click on the skype icon, choose the contact they which to call, and it doesnt matter where is this contact in the world and here u go a free international call. the ugly truth is that all of those companies wants to make money, and that means if banning you from using voip service on ur cell phone device.. but i would like to ensure people that the ban is only on internet connections provided via gsm networks, not through adsl or land lines, the ban maybe new to egypt but the fact is VOIP via cell phones in the usa was never allowed, it was always banned by the FCC. until recently when some providers began signing deals with voip providers like skype..
Skype is being blocked on GSM networks only. Not your ADSL connections. If you are trying to use skype on your GSM usb/data card then you ARE being blocked. I just arrived back in Egypt a few days ago and I'm sitting in City Stars and just noticed I can't login to Skype on my USB Vodafone card. So it's time to tunnel. :)
Fring hasn't worked on my call and internet mobinil line for the past two days.
Why in the civilized world it is acceptable?
I gess they want people to finish their business as this revives economy.
They are thinking of few extra pounds by blocking people to force them to use their international lines.
Blocked .
I cant log to Skype Fring or Nimbuzz from any of the three networks even from my DATA line too
This can be overcome if you use a service such as from https//www.vpnaccounts.com ;-)
The same with Mobinil internet. I’ve been wondering why skype is not connecting on my mobile or when using my mobinil usb stick. It only connects when I use wifi but not mobinil internet.
I think its only a part of telecomEgypt (the governmental company) abuse and monopoly over international phone calls which they offer at one of the highest rates all over the world, and they want no competition even if it was the internet.
Egyptian government is always the best at stealing money from its own people creating so many excuses for their monopolies. :)
This is only for the usb modems, as they use 3G. So technically, instead of using credit to call someone, you are using their internet service to call them for free. It will probably be banned on the smartphones soon – calling another smartphone via skype and not paying credit for it? Yeah, unlikely.
I don’t mind really; skype works fine with normal internet, even the Vodafone ADSL.