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October 17, 2005
Africa makes progress on VoIP
African countries are gradually opening up to legalizing VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) services.
Last month, Telkom Kenya Ltd. launched a VOIP service that allows telephone users to make cheaper international calls, after the country's Communications Commission released policy guidelines for the provision of VOIP services. Earlier this year, South Africa allowed value-added network services and or enhanced-service licences to carry voice on their networks. Mauritius has also legalized the provision of VOIP services.
African regulators have who have been reluctant to legalize VOIP in a bid to protect the revenue base of the incumbent fixed-line, and in some cases, mobile telcos are now facing significant marketshare due to grey market of VoIP based telco services.
This year, nearly 50% of all African inbound have been lost to VoIP and 57% of all outbound traffic in being routed via VoIP according to market research firm Insight.
Posted by admin at October 17, 2005 05:11 AM