| Several countries have either banned VoIP or talked | | | | jobs meaning rising unemployment. |
| about banning VoIP over the last few years. VoIP is | | | | Some countries are concerned about security |
| cheaper than other forms of telephony and some | | | | problems around VoIP. It is much more difficult to |
| counties are looking at this as a negative for a | | | | track VoIP calls than regular telephone calls. This is |
| variety of reasons. VoIP providers can often be | | | | because signals travel over an Internet connection |
| based anywhere in the world, so as opposed to | | | | rather than a common telephone line that connects |
| telephone providers, the profits may leave the | | | | the entire network. This is partly as VoIP technology |
| country. There are several reasons why VoIP has | | | | is relatively new though, and this could become easier |
| been banned in certain territories. | | | | as the technology is worked out. Some believe that |
| Part of the reason is competition. Some claim it is | | | | tracking calls is necessary for national security |
| unfair on local telecommunications companies as VoIP | | | | reasons, while others think that tracking private |
| providers can offer a cheaper service. This brings up | | | | conversations should be against human rights laws. |
| the debate of a free market. Should it be completely | | | | Whichever side of the debate you are, it is |
| free and open to everyone or should steps be made | | | | something that some governments will take into |
| to support local business? If local business cannot | | | | consideration. |
| complete should they just be allowed to go out of | | | | The debate of banning VoIP has taken place in |
| business? The increasing popularity of VoIP will | | | | countries such as Germany, Russia and the United |
| obviously be bad for traditional telecommunications | | | | Arab Emirates amongst other places. In Germany the |
| companies. Some have accused countries, such as | | | | telecoms provider Deutsche Telekom had banned the |
| Russia, of hiding behind the reason of unfair | | | | use of VoIP over their network stating unfair |
| competition, with security being the actual reason. | | | | competition as the main reason. It looks as though |
| Many telecommunications networks around the world | | | | this ban will be lifted though, but there may still be a |
| are state controlled. Therefore VoIP can literally | | | | surcharge. The banning of VoIP has been discussed in |
| threaten governments' income. This is obviously an | | | | Russia but as yet there hasn't been any ban. As |
| incentive for countries to stop VoIP usage. | | | | mentioned above they have said it is for competition |
| Whether or not telecoms companies are private or | | | | reasons, but many believe it is really because they |
| run by the state, it can still be bad for the economy. | | | | would like to track calls easily. In the UAE VoIP is |
| If overseas VoIP providers are taking the majority | | | | currently banned in certain areas, such as Dubai. |
| of the business, then certain parts of the national | | | | However there are reports that this ban could soon |
| economy could suffer. This can lead to the loss of | | | | be lifted. |