Etisalat lifts Skype ban?

Abu Dhabi-based telecoms operator Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) has reportedly unblocked access to Skype in the UAE, according to local news source 7Days, citing a company announcement. ‘The long awaited app is finally available for all, enjoy calling your long distance friends & family using Skype,’ Etisalat posted on its social media channels. Last week local press reported that subscribers of Etisalat’s sole rival Du were able to access Skype’s website and make calls to mobile and fixed lines using the service, although the Dubai-based operator denied that it had unblocked the internet phone service. ‘There has been no change in the treatment of VoIP [voice-over-internet protocol] traffic, including Skype, on our networks,’ Du said in a statement.