kaspaas
Expert Member
Please note the reference to "Skype" (effectively blocked by Telkom due to port prioritisation)
and the last paragraph [
]
<b>Free web calls illegal - Telkom </b>
23/03/2004 16:59 - (SA)
http://www.finance24.co.za/Finance/Companies/0,,1518-24_1502194,00.html
Johannesburg - Telkom did not believe software providing free international telephone calls on the internet would impact on its revenue, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
"We are more concerned from a legal and regulatory perspective," said Andrew Weldrick, Telkom spokesperson.
"It is illegal. Licence rights need to be protected and Telkom remains the only licensed telecommunications service system provider in South Africa," said Weldrick.
He said Telkom had for several years been aware of the existence of internet software that allowed users to bypass the Telkom network and make free telephone calls. So far, however, Telkom had done nothing about it.
"It is difficult to prove," said Weldrick. "Ultimately it is up to the regulator to enforce the regulation."
He said in order for something to get done Telkom would have to investigate the situation, find evidence that people were illegally making use of "network bypass" software, and file a complaint with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).
"Icasa would then pick it up." he said.
He said Telkom had yet to decide whether to take these steps.
The extent to which people in South Africa are using this software is unknown.
Experts are reported to estimate that thousands of South Africans have downloaded the new Skype software program (www.skype.com), which allows people to make international calls from the internet at no extra cost.
The only cost involved is allowing your computer to become part of the peer-to-peer network that allows the system to function.
As with the copyright issues which emerged a few years ago around distributing music on the internet, the current telecommunications legislation, developed before "network bypass" became a possibility, is ill equipped to deal with the new situation.
At present the Telecommunications Act of 1996 gives Telkom (and the second network operator when they come in) exclusive rights to international telephone traffic.
Future legal amendments could address the problem of network bypass, said Weldrick, but he agreed that, except from making such activities legal, <b>there was little that could be done from a legal perspective to help Telkom to enforce its rights.</b>
Edited by Mahap Msiza
South Africa needs World Class Broadband at World Competitive Prices.
and the last paragraph [
]<b>Free web calls illegal - Telkom </b>
23/03/2004 16:59 - (SA)
http://www.finance24.co.za/Finance/Companies/0,,1518-24_1502194,00.html
Johannesburg - Telkom did not believe software providing free international telephone calls on the internet would impact on its revenue, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
"We are more concerned from a legal and regulatory perspective," said Andrew Weldrick, Telkom spokesperson.
"It is illegal. Licence rights need to be protected and Telkom remains the only licensed telecommunications service system provider in South Africa," said Weldrick.
He said Telkom had for several years been aware of the existence of internet software that allowed users to bypass the Telkom network and make free telephone calls. So far, however, Telkom had done nothing about it.
"It is difficult to prove," said Weldrick. "Ultimately it is up to the regulator to enforce the regulation."
He said in order for something to get done Telkom would have to investigate the situation, find evidence that people were illegally making use of "network bypass" software, and file a complaint with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).
"Icasa would then pick it up." he said.
He said Telkom had yet to decide whether to take these steps.
The extent to which people in South Africa are using this software is unknown.
Experts are reported to estimate that thousands of South Africans have downloaded the new Skype software program (www.skype.com), which allows people to make international calls from the internet at no extra cost.
The only cost involved is allowing your computer to become part of the peer-to-peer network that allows the system to function.
As with the copyright issues which emerged a few years ago around distributing music on the internet, the current telecommunications legislation, developed before "network bypass" became a possibility, is ill equipped to deal with the new situation.
At present the Telecommunications Act of 1996 gives Telkom (and the second network operator when they come in) exclusive rights to international telephone traffic.
Future legal amendments could address the problem of network bypass, said Weldrick, but he agreed that, except from making such activities legal, <b>there was little that could be done from a legal perspective to help Telkom to enforce its rights.</b>
Edited by Mahap Msiza
South Africa needs World Class Broadband at World Competitive Prices.
]
