Middle East Focus: Skype and the Plutocrats on the Persian Gulf………….

Arabia Deserta

Skype and the Plutocrats on the Persian Gulf………….

“The UAE telecommunications regulator has reportedly imposed a general ban on the use of Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP -- the transmission technology used by Internet phone services. Skype is today only blocked in a few countries, including North Korea, the UAE and Kuwait. Speaking at the same summit, Skype CEO Josh Silverman criticized the UAE's current ban on the service. He called it "short-sighted" -- especially for a place like Dubai, which prides itself on being a dynamic free trade hub with a large immigrant population. "When you're trying to attract a large immigrant population and support a large emigrant population, (Skype is) a vital tool," Silverman was quoted telling reporters at the sidelines of the summit. "We think it is in the interest of the residents of the UAE and the Emirati government and economy to allow Skype as almost every other country on Earth does."….....”

This guy from Skype is naïve. The oligarchs don’t give a rat’s arse about “dynamic free trade hub”, when it comes to protecting their interests and those of their plutocrat partners in business. Who does he think controls and runs these local telecoms: suspicious Islamic charities?
At least I learned now that I can’t use Skype in some Gulf states. I didn’t know that.
Cheers
mhg

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