Egypt bans VoIP calls

Cell phone service providers lose revenue when people use VoIP (voice over internet protocol) on their mobile phones to link to the Internet and make free phone calls with programs like Skype.

In March, the Egyptian government banned the use of services like Skype for cell phone calls made over Egypt’s three national mobile networks (Vodafone, Mobinil and Etisalat). The ban does not affect cell phones using international mobile phone providers. Also, the ban does not affect fixed-line Internet calls made using a computer/laptop.