Skype, Call Serve, etc. Illegal in Qatar ???

Have you guys read the following news ? PC-to-Phone calls are violating their law ?
Can someone confirm this please.

Two in dock over Net phone usePublished: Saturday, 21 June, 2008, 01:24 AM Doha Time

By Nour Abuzant
TWO Bangladeshi friends are up in court after one of them called his relatives using an outlawed computer-to-telephone service.
One of the accused was arrested on February 26 after spending only a matter of days in Qatar.
The court heard that while he was staying at his friend's house he used a pre-paid card to phone his family.
However, according to the Communication Law 34/2006 the cheaper method of calling abroad is a 'misuse' of the country's exclusive communication services – and violators can face a one year jail term as well as a fine of up to QR50,000.
The second defendant, who works for the military, was arrested at his base. In the first week of the trial, the 31 year old denied having “sold” the service to his friend.
A number of shopkeepers have been deported following a crackdown on pre-paid international cards two months ago.
Sources told Gulf Times that a number of others arrested in the Musherib raids were now facing charges.

The wartel like operations which are run by shopkeepers, mostly found in industrial areas, are definitely illegal. The ictQatar (regulator) is trying to curb these and managed to crack down some VOIP operations recently. It is estimated that about 20-30% of IDD calls are coming from these, obviously targeting the lower end communities. (For this reason nxt mth Qtel ada promo IDD call to India 70% discount, Malaysia takde, volume is not there)

Skype and etc, I'm not sure, but, memang susah nak trace..

Personal phone calls on Internet are legal
Published: Monday, 21 July, 2008, 01:57 AM Doha Time
By K T Chacko
THE use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a technology that allows transmission of voice through the Internet, is legal in Qatar, an official yesterday clarified.
Putting to rest the confusion reigning over the issue, a spokesperson for the Supreme Council for Information and Communications Technology (ictQATAR) said: “There are no laws or rules that prohibit the use of the VoIP technology within the State of Qatar.”
In response to recent newspaper reports, the official said the Telecommunications Law 34 of 2006, “does, however, make it illegal for any person to provide telecommunication services to the public for a direct or indirect fee without a licence issued by ictQATAR for that purpose”.
Currently, the only two entities licensed by ictQATAR to provide such voice services to the public are Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and Vodafone Qatar, which is yet to start its operations in the country.
A large number of Qatar residents make use of the VoIP facility as it helps them to make cheaper or free international calls.
The basic requirement for availing of the service is a broadband (high speed Internet) connection, which in Qatar can be subscribed for a minimum monthly rent of QR200.
Further clarifying the official position, the spokesperson said: “Any person or business in Qatar may use VoIP services for their own use, but nobody may sell VoIP calls or services to the public or businesses without a valid licence.”
VoIP services convert voices into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. It is used for making calls from PC to PC, PC to phone and phone to phone. While calling a regular phone number, the signal is converted to a regular telephone signal before it reaches the destination.
In addition, wireless ‘hot spots’ in locations such as parks, cafes and airports allow people to connect to the Internet and make telephone calls using VoIP.
Asked about the legality of the popular services of JustVoiP, a company that offers Internet telephony, a legal consultant with ictQATAR told Gulf Times that while availing of it for personal use was not a crime, selling of vouchers to charge the credit of a JustVoiP account was illegal.
While Just Voip provides free calls to the USA, Canada, almost all countries in Europe and many other places, it charges as low as 23 dirhams per minute for calls to India. Qtel charges as much as QR2.64 per minute for calls made during peak time to the same destination.
Another company popular with Net users is Skype that also allows the public to make calls from computers. It offers free calls to other people on Skype and cheap calls to land phones and mobiles around the world.
To a question whether it is legal to pay the charge or top up a VoIP account online using a credit card, the official said as long as it was done for personal use, it was lawful.
“The focus of the ban is on resale of the facility without a licence. The Supreme Council for Information and Communications Technology is committed to encourage the availability of the latest technology (like VoIP) to Qatari citizens and residents.”
As an example for the illegal use of VoIP, she pointed out the practice of Internet cafes providing phone services to the public.
When her attention was drawn to a recent report where two Bangladeshis were found guilty of breaking Qatar’s telecom law by a Doha court, she said ictQATAR was studying the case.
Meanwhile, irrespective of an official crackdown, some Doha Internet cafes were found to be providing phone services to the public yesterday. To a question if it is not illegal, an Internet cafe operator said: “It is, but business continues as usual.”

takpe la.....anyway untuk call famili tu baik guna skpe,viop ke telepon dari malaysia...yg dok kat qatar sambut gagang ..pas tu jawab...sama le jugak.

anyway...ps: jangan langor undang2 ....all the best

semua VoIP legal, unless use for commercial purposes. kalau untuk personal, mafi musyhkilla.