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Momodou
Denmark
11646 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Apr 2013 : 13:16:29
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“USE OF SKYPE, VIBER IS LEGAL IF NOT COMMERCIALIZED”
by Sarjo Camara
Foroyaa: Published on Tuesday, 23 April 2013
The Director General of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Mr. Abdoulie Jobe, said the Press Release issued by his office is not meant to stop Gambians from using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) such as skype and viber services but to state that the service is not for commercialization. This is in response to the concerns being raised by the members of the public regarding a Press Release issued by PURA asking the companies and individuals operating Internet Cafes to stop “offering dating services and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services as a commercially available service to the public in The Gambia”.
In an interview with this reporter at his office yesterday, Monday,22 April 2013, Mr. Jobe said it has come to the notice of his agency that there are certain internet café operators who are soliciting or calling on people to come and make international calls using VoIP such as skype and then charging them to pay for this service. “It is these calls that PURA is saying are illegal because the VoIP should not be commercialized and this is depriving the country of much needed revenue from national and international calls,” he said. The PURA Director General said the Press Release has clearly indicated the issues they are concerned about and called on the members of the public to revisit or to properly read the public notice in order for them to understand what PURA is trying to address which is simply emphasizing that “VoIP service is not for commercialization”. He said the Press Release is in connection to what they have received on a dating site and also the information that some Internet Café s are charging people for making skype or viber calls. “How can PURA ban VoIP services?” asked Mr. Jobe. He added that the role of his agency is to regulate the sector in conformity with the ICT Act 2009 and other International standards and that this is what the Press Release is all about. “PURA never said that Viber or Skype calls are banned. It did not say that online dating and skyping or viber is illegal in the Gambia,” emphasized the Director General.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11646 Posts |
Posted - 23 Apr 2013 : 15:41:45
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quote:
Originally posted by toubab1020
One sentence still is a little ambiguous,"Individuals can continue to use Skype or Viber on their personal devises " in my mind no clarification has been made as to whether Skype etc can be used openly in internet cafe etc,which is the main location where the average Gambian would go to use Skype etc.
Toubab, you are right the warning text is still not very clear. People who have Skype accounts should still be able use an internet café to make calls without the café owner being penalised. The average Gambian does not have a smart phone or tablet. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 23 Apr 2013 : 16:17:45
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Well, let's not knock those people who have had the very good sense to make "clarifications" they have done well.
I still agree with you though this blind spot still remains in the published information and it would be really good if it was addressed soon whilst the subject is still very much in the public eye.
Thanks from everyone in the Gambia is due to those in the ministries concerned that this publication should be made clear very quickly if it wasn't,what would have happened is that internet usage by the average Gambian would have been forced underground leading to even more problems for the authorities to deal with. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 23 Apr 2013 16:19:43 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 00:04:38
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So is this about stifling competition between telecom operators on one hand and cafe owners on the other or is it about protecting govt revenue base??
If individuals are allowed to use skype, all that means is that cafe owners cannot charge for skype usage and that means their customers will continue to access skype albeit free of charge by only paying for internet usage. How on earth does that guarantee revenue for government??? It doesn't make sense to me.
If cafe owners are charging customers for using skype, that is wrong as this service is free. However, in terms of the kind of revenue govt derives from international calls either directly or indirectly, and in the light of the latest govt clarification, I do not see how the PURA statement sought to protect that. If anything, it can only make it worst as service will become totally free even at the cafes and thereby putting telecom operators including GAMTEL under even more pressure.
I think it is best to accept the latest govt statement on this issue as a retraction rather than a clarification. The PURA statement would have made sense if it was intended to protect the public from unscrupulus business practice but to protect govt revenue???? No. I don't see any wisdom in that claim. In fact, it can only make it worst for the treasury since people will now use skype at the cafes without having to pay anything but for the cost of internet usage. The lower the price, the higher the demand and that means less revenue for govt, if PURA's logic is to go by. No price at all, soon we will reach saturation point and that means no revenue for govt, again; if PURA's logic is to go by.
Thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 24 Apr 2013 01:13:16 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 01:12:19
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"I think it is best to accept the latest govt statement on this issue as a retraction rather than clarification."
Nyarikangbanna,come on be a little gracious,a "mistake", as politicians like to call it was made initially, I would hope that you would maybe take the view that is what happened ,would you feel happier if I had used the words, "rectified a mistake" rather than "clarification" ? 
The result on this now is , All is well that ends well |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 24 Apr 2013 01:22:25 |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 01:22:00
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I have been gracious toubab, and guess how? By seperating the chaffs from the grains.
You are right though, we must accept human fallibility as mistakes do happen but in this case, I believe the Honorable Minister should have issued a retraction to put matters to rest rather than a clarification that did so little to clarify anything.
Thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 24 Apr 2013 08:51:36 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 01:25:04
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Nyarikangbanna, the Honorable Minister is a politician,you know very well that politicians never make mistakes |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 24 Apr 2013 01:25:40 |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 08:54:28
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quote:
Originally posted by toubab1020
Nyarikangbanna, the Honorable Minister is a politician,you know very well that politicians never make mistakes
Sounds like a tongue in the cheek I got you toubab.
Thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 10:40:43
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“You might very well think that; I couldn’t possibly comment.”
quote:
Originally posted by Nyarikangbanna
quote:
Originally posted by toubab1020
Nyarikangbanna, the Honorable Minister is a politician,you know very well that politicians never make mistakes
Sounds like a tongue in the cheek I got you toubab.
Thanks
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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