[governance] Ethiopia criminalises the use of VOIP

[Lee W McKnight]

FYI,

12 years ago 70 countries banned voice over Internet; I don't have the current numbers but Ethiopia isn't the only nation to still declare voice over Internet illegal.  It is however reversing the general trend of relaxing such bans, for Ethiopia to be passing new legislation.

Even if as many have noted, in countries with official 'bans' VoIP services like Skype are widely used.

Some of you may be amused by my presentation to an ITU workshop, attended by the secretary general, entitled 'How to Regulate a Platypus.' http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/ni/iptel/workshop/mcknight.pdf  In which I suggested such efforts were bound to fail, and that it would not to easy to 'kill the duck.'

Now to our present concerns: ITU actions can indeed legitimate actions which I would argue are not in the interests of a nation's citizens, but may be in the interests of a state ministry of telecoms, and/or a national telecom provider. Which is reason enough to remain - observant - of what WCIT is up to, in all areas.

Lee


________________________________
From: governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org [governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org] on behalf of Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro [salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro at gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2012 5:24 PM
To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org; William Drake
Cc: International Ivission; Gaël Hernandez
Subject: Re: [governance] Ethiopia criminalises the use of VOIP

My personal view is that each context is different and has unique challenges. In this instance, Ethiopia Telecommunication Corporation is licensed to provide the following:-

  *   Public Switched Telecommunication Service
  *   GSM 900 MHz Mobile Telecommunication Service
  *   Internet Service
  *   Digital Data Communication

Of the 153 countries ranked in the 2011 IDI ranks as 151 which is very low. Ethiopia is also classified as a low income economy. Ethiopia is considered as the second most populous country in Africa and this affects issues of "accessibility" and teledensity. They are also dealing with their Financial Crisis and there is a Study on the Impact on Human Development by the UNFPA.

The World Bank Ethiopia Director, Ken Ohashi is reported by Bloomberg in 2011 to have said that Ethiopia's dependence on foreign capital to finance budget deficits and a five year investment plan is unsustainable.

According to the Bloomberg article, telecommunications is owned by the State, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-08/ethiopia-s-investment-plan-may-be-unsustainable-world-bank-official-says.html.

The challenges of having a sole provider of telecommunications. Is the market liberalised? Are there incentives for liberalisation.

Liberalisation of markets aside - if VOIP is banned, the first thing that comes to mind is the inference that the conflict lies between providing affordable access and operating a business where the bottom line helps to increase "access".

The Internet Governance Forum is an excellent place that allows developing countries like Ethiopia who rank very poorly on the IDI to be able to mingle and discuss history of growth of telecommunications with others from around the world who are at different stages in development. They may be inspired to figure our creative and innovative ways and means to advance access and also give room for innovation and sustainability of business models.

This is why collaboration and the rich sharing of information and resources through dialogue. It is normal and usual for people to be in their comfortable cliques at some of these forums. The rich diversity of the global landscape and terrain and its challenges truly make the world a diverse place.

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