Digicel Mulls Banning VOIP in Jamaica (Coming soon to T&T?)

[2WNBoost]

Na I on Lime all now and was using viber in Jamaica last week and in Barbados today . Something in the making perhaps. However that's total dew dew

They started it in Jamaica
http://www.digiceljamaica.com/en/about/news/public-advisory-digicel-blocks-voip-services

June 29th 2014 - PUBLIC ADVISORY- DIGICEL BLOCKS VOIP SERVICES

Digicel is announcing that, effectively immediately, unlicenced phone number based VOIP services are blocked on its network.
Unlicenced phone number based VOIP operators such as Viber and Nimbuzz use telecoms networks to deliver their services, but do not pay the requisite money for the privilege. Digicel believes that this unauthorised use of its network amounts to illegal bypass activity.

With these unauthorised VOIP services putting enormous pressures on bandwidth – and customers’ data usage experience being negatively impacted as a result – the company has been forced to take firm action.

This is about getting the VOIP operators to agree to pay a reasonable price for the services that, at this point, they are taking from us for free. Just as a consumer would not expect to go to a supermarket and take the goods off the shelves for free, so the VOIP operators must be forced to pay their dues so that our customers can feel the benefits of our investments

With discussions with the VOIP providers ongoing, Digicel is hopeful that these measures will only be temporary and that mutually beneficial commercial relationships can be agreed with them on an individual basis.

Digicel is taking this action to protect its business, its customers and its service integrity. We would like to thank customers for their understanding and patience and hope to have a positive result to communicate in the near future.

Meanwhile Youtube accounted for 18.69% of internet traffic for Nov 2013 in North America
http://www.cnet.com/news/netflix-youtube-gobble-up-half-of-internet-traffic/

[IdleMind2504]

Madness I really hope TATT puts an end to this

[M_2NR]

Still works for me. But I never liked Viber to be honest. Feels like a 5 year old designed it. Plus, there is always a 5 second delay between persons. Once Skype, Whatsapp and Facebook is still supported (and the latter 2 free) we in a gear.

[nervewrecker]

Only Viber and Nimbuzz?

Hangouts included I wonder?

[S_2NR]

this would affect me if i had a data plan
lord help allyu if they block whatsapp.

[pete]

Magic jack still works

[M_2NR]

this would affect me if i had a data plan
lord help allyu if they block whatsapp.

they would actually breach silver and gold smartplan contracts if they do so since it is established in the terms:

Smart Plans (Silver and Gold) will also have the EXTRA ADDED VALUE of Unlimited Social and Messaging Add-On built into the Data bundle at no additional cost to the subscriber. Therefore subscribers can use Facebook, Twitter, Chat-On, Imessage and Whatsapp free without depleting their data bundle. This is only available to customers on Non-BlackBerry Smart Plans and will NOT be available for the Smart Plans Bronze.

[S_2NR]

I think WhatsApp is planning on adding voice calls in the future. That's why I said that

[maj. tom]

The issue of Net Neutrality finally hits home.

[skylinechild]

UPDATE - it is here

see attached pic- came from todays express - page 19



wonder if TATT can do anything about this.

[EFFECTIC DESIGNS]

TATT may not do anything about this. This is not our company we can not force digicel to allow VOIP if they don't want to.

If we don't like something we just don't support it.

Also the market in the US is huge compared to here I think digicel is taking a massive hit on profits thanks to VOIP and with the tiny population of the Caribbean they might just be right to do what they are doing

How quickly we forget what TSTT did to us when Digicel was never around how quickly we forget. You cant done count the amount of money they spent to put a network in this country and VoIP is making that infrastructure worthless and money wasted.

Just remember its only thanks to digicel that tstt's monopoly was crushed.

[pablo_tt]

Viber is the main target, all others not affected.

Carry on

[rfari]

[sonygoup]

Just got the text too -_-

[M_2NR]

Meh. And texting 819 to 247 eh doing anything.

[want2liqur]

So after spending $600 for a mifi device by $60 for a "special" sim by a 15gb plan they restricting me from using voip services??? Texting still works though

[M_2NR]

It's Tango, Nimbuzz and Viber so far. Nothing on the website yet though.

[rfari]

What about ppl using magic jack devices?

[Swisha]

It's Tango, Nimbuzz and Viber so far. Nothing on the website yet though.

http://www.digiceltt.com/en/about/news/ ... -providers

[want2liqur]

What about ppl using magic jack devices?

Still working thank god cause i paid for it just to get a #

[pioneer]

It good ollor stay wid dem ricer companies

[rfari]

U with at&t nuh pios

[tr1ad]

You studying the troll king?

[rfari]

I looking for a link up with wha bess network he on. Cus it certainly cyar be bmobile he on

[UML]

http://www.digiceltt.com/en/about/news/ ... -providers

[UML]

http://www.digiceltt.com/en/about/news/ ... -providers

[rfari]

Hummuch time u wanna repost the link?

[pioneer]

Green>red

[TrinbagoMan]

[vasquez]

Will FaceTime on ios devices (iPhones) be affected also?