Egypt plans to block widely-used applications Viber and WhatsApp on economic and security concerns, a state telecommunication senior official tells Ahram Online on Saturday.
Head of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) Amr Badawy said a committee has been formed to monitor those mobile applications and will decide whether to ban, allow free usage or restrict them somehow.
"These applications allow subscribers to make free calls, messages and share files while their sources remain unknown. Pre-paid applications will face losses," Badawy explained.
WhatsApp is a very popular app that allows for free chatting, while Viber allows for free international phone calls. Viber, one of the top cell phone apps, was developed by an Israeli company.
Recently Saudi Arabia's telecom regulator banned the web-based communication application, saying it is difficult for the state to monitor and deprives licensed telecom companies of revenue from international calls and texts.
"The Viber application has been suspended ... and the [regulator] affirms it will take appropriate action against any other applications or services if they fail to comply with regulatory requirements and rules in force in the kingdom," a statement reads on the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) website.
Source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/73465.aspx
Egypt considers banning Viber, WhatsApp
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Re: Egypt considers banning Viber, WhatsApp
There not exactly free when you have to pay for data plans which are expensive for the amount of megabytes you get. What will be next? Facebook, Twitter, Skype....
- Grandad
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Re: Egypt considers banning Viber, WhatsApp
Don't hold your breath Keefy. There seems to be a gradual move back to strict islamic values that will further divide Egypt from western values of freedom and free speech.DJKeefy wrote: What will be next? Facebook, Twitter, Skype....
Backward steps in my opinion.
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Re: Egypt considers banning Viber, WhatsApp
I agree with Grandad. I see what is happening in Egypt as a slow progression towards a more fundamental Islamic state. One by one Islamic values will replace western ways. Change takes time and the best way is always when it happens slowly.
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