Seychelles issues first VoIP licence.

The announcement that a new service in the form of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) will be available in Seychelles by early next year is raising expectations that consumers will be spoilt for choices and that phone tariffs will finally be reduced. But will this really be the case?

In announcing further liberalisation of the telecommunications industry, the department of Information and Communications (DITC) says, “it is expected that prices will be even more competitive and that both consumers and businesses will enjoy more choices.”

DITC has issued the first VoIP licence to the cable television entertainment service provider, Intelvision, bringing to three the number of Internet service providers (ISP) in that industry in Seychelles. The other two are ATLAS and Kokoket.

Consequently, Intelvision will, by means of its cable television network, be able to provide Internet and telephone services.

VoIP (voice over IP - that is, voice delivered using the Internet Protocol) means sending voice information in digital form in discrete packets rather than in the traditional circuit-committed protocols of the public switched telephone network (PSTN). A major advantage of VoIP and Internet telephony is that it avoids the tolls charged by ordinary telephone service.

According to the DITC, Intelvision can use its licence to provide a variety of marketing offerings which can be categorised into three groupings:
1. A product (such as a software program run on a personal
computer) with no ongoing provision of a service.
2. Corporate private networks, used for internal communication
within large companies, for sole use of that corporation
3. Publicly available VoIP services which are subjected to
remuneration.

The department explained that with the development of new services, which uses VoIP technology, the proper regulatory framework has to be put into place, to ensure Seychelles gain from all the benefits such as increased competition and the stimulation of new and innovative services for its citizens.

Hence all the publicities surrounding the new Broadcasting and Telecommunication (VoIP services) Regulation 2005 and the Licences (Broadcasting and Telecommunication) (Amendment) Regulation, 2005.

“In doing so, the department has recognized that a balance needs to be struck between creating the right conditions for deployment of VoIP services and ensuring that consumers are properly informed and protected,” the department said.