Senegal’s telecoms watchdog the Autorite de Regulation des Telecommunications et des Postes (ARTP) has given national PTO Sonatel 48 hours to explain why it is blocking end user access to over-the-top (OTT) voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) services such as Viber, and beyond that, address the issue straight away. As reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate earlier this week, Orange Group-backed Sonatel stands accused of ‘illegally’ blocking internet users from accessing free voice communications services from Viber and also messaging service WhatsApp. The PTO has so far remained tight-lipped on the subject amid concerns it is trying to protect its own switched call traffic revenues by effectively denying users access to alternative free IP-based alternatives.
As previously noted, the regulation of telecommunications services in Senegal is characterised by a ‘technology neutral’ approach. There is no specific legislation within the current telecoms law concerning VoIP and, as such, IP telephony is permitted, on the proviso that providers obtain a licence from the ARTP.