Cheap Phone Calls! No, Sorry

Emirates Today carries criticism of the TRA's ban on international interweb phone calls. Many UAE residents feel the ban is unfair and illogical. But we are assured by a spokesman for the TRA that the ban is for the protection of consumers.

However, an official at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority insisted that making internet phone calls illegal was not motivated by a desire to protect Etisalat.
“We are protecting customers,” said Mohamed Gheyath, manager of IT affairs at the authority, who said that the companies selling pre-paid cards enabling customers to make internet calls have no licence and therefore there is no guarantee they comply with security and quality service standards.

What a load of disingenuous tosh.