INT shuts down VoIP blockade rumours

Tunisia’s National Telecommunications Commission (INT) has issued a statement denying that measures are being taken to impose a block or a charge on free over-the-top (OTT) voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) apps such as Skype and Viber. The watchdog said that it had not received any formal request from the operators to implement such changes, adding that INT ‘ensures that telecom operators meet mandatory conditions…especially regarding net neutrality.’ INT’s statement followed reports that had circulated in local media that Orange, Ooredoo and Tunisie Telecom (TT) would from 1 October introduce a new offering whereby subscribers would have to pay to have access to OTT VoIP apps. According to the reports, the trio had agreed to implement the measures in response to falling revenues from their traditional services as a result of the increasing use of the aforementioned apps.