Skype Journal: Jordan regulator blocks Skype.com
October 4, 2006 11:31 AM
Jordanians have been using Skype without problems for years. Until now. For example, JRBT wrote "My ISP is Batelco and it does appear to be blocked. I am unable to gain credit for skype out from Jordan I have to get a friend in uk to get it for me."
Researcher David DeBartolo confirms that Batelco blocks Skype as directed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. Presumably for "security." Here's the letter from DeBartolo and the fax from the ISP.
Dear Philip,
My name is David DeBartolo, and I am an American working in Amman, Jordan. I am the chair of a nonprofit organization with colleagues in Washington, London, and Cairo. I have been using Skype to keep in touch with all of them, and it has been tremendously useful -- until two weeks ago.
At that time, I started to have severe interruptions to my Skype service here in Jordan. It is forbidden to access the Skype website, and I have even been unable to make regular Skype-to-Skype or SkypeOut calls. Other colleagues of mine in Jordan have reported similar problems. The problems abated for the last week, but have now returned.
I inquired with our ISP in Jordan, named "Batelco," and they claim that the Jordanian Telecommunications Regulatory Commission has required them to ban access to Skype's website and to its authentication server. As proof they sent me the attached fax that they received.
I called the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, and they confirmed that they had ordered it banned, for "security reasons" responding to concerns of the government of Jordan. Most folks here don't believe this ridiculous justification; they believe that the state communications companies are upset about losing long-distance customers to Skype.
I've been told that complaints should be directed to the director of regulatory department of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, Dr. Al-Ansari. His email address is alansari.almashagbah@trc.gov.jo. The contact information for the commission is on the attached fax; Dr. Al-Ansari's extension is 2300.
I wanted to let you know about this issue because I am furious at the Jordanian government's self-serving decision. I hope that you will get a good blog post out of this, and that you may be able to mobilize Skype executives to officially protest the commission's decision. Jordan has a very close relationship to the US, and if they believe that Americans are upset at the decision, or that international investment will be jeopardized, they may be persuaded to change course. I also hope that you may be able to get Skype technicians working to counter whatever obstacles they have created to using Skype in Jordan.
Thank you for your time and please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any additional information.
Sincerely,
David M. DeBartolo
Fulbright Researcher, Jordan, 2006-2007
Binational Fulbright Commission
Amman, 11185
Jordan
Are you having difficulty with Skype and your ISP? Do you believe the "security" reason for blocking Skype.com?
TrackBack (0)
Comments (5)
The same goes for United Arab Emirates. The local telecom (Etisalat) has been blocked all VOIP options in the country. Check out www.gulfnews.com and type in the search box "skype". You will find the reaction of locals about this. I may write to you more when i will get there in the beginning of next week.
Posted by: Taavi at October 4, 2006 12:52 PM
Do you have one of the more later clients? If you go to Help and Buy Skype Credit, then that will likely still work.
Posted by: L at October 4, 2006 2:03 PM
Well, That fax confirm that Skype service are officially blocked in Jordan now.
but it seems Batelco Jordan were the first to block the site and the login server and that might be because they have their own International calls solution so it's very healthy to act quickly
Posted by: Jad madi at October 11, 2006 1:19 PM
Just I want to inform you that Skype work now on jordan
Posted by: Ehab at October 13, 2006 5:08 AM
Hello,
Skype was unlocked last week in Jordan, I can confirm that it is possible to access www.skype.com from Jordan.
Posted by: Samer Marzouq at October 14, 2006 11:26 PM