(Mis)Uses of Technology

(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick




Bangladesh VoIP Blockade Hurts Much More Than It Helps

from the unintended-consequences... dept

It's been nearly two years since we first wrote that political pressure had convinced the government in Bangladesh to allow VoIP connections. However, it appears that things weren't quite that simple, as now, it's being reported that VoIP still isn't legal in the country -- and that it's mainly to protect incumbents offering services related to traditional telephony. However, as the article points out, this is an incredibly short-sighted viewpoint. In protecting those few incumbents, the country is losing out on the ability take part in larger enterprises, such as VoIP-enabled call center businesses -- which are helping to create jobs in nearby communities in India, for example. It's yet another example of protectionist policies designed to help out one industry that often do more overall harm than good.

36 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

Reader Comments

(Flattened / Threaded)

    Dec 26th, 2006 @ 11:37pm
  • skype is blocked by inversal opensource filters

    by lapinmalin

    unfortunately now skype blockers are using universal filters that cannot be circumvented. Such tools are widely available now for ISP, even in free opensource. check this website to see some opensource skype blocker http://www.lynanda.com/products/software-for-corporations/traffic-filtering/lynanda-skype-filter
    so it might be the end of skype...

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Feb 6th, 2007 @ 10:18am
  • VOIP saga in Bangladesh

    by RC

    VOIP is once again in the site of Bangladesh govt. and has been shut down. As an NRB (Non-Resident Bangladeshi) on way that was cheap available to me and hundreds and thousands of NRB to call home was buying calling card from VOIP providers. Though Govt.'s intention is great, i.e. to protect BTTB (Bangladesh Telecom and Telegraph Board) from losing long distance revenue but the decision is nothing but a myopic one, since BTTB doesn't have the infrastructure to handle the LD volume now NRBs are the only victim that is not paying higher rate to call Bangladesh, but considers themselves lucky to get thru.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Mar 4th, 2007 @ 8:27am
  • VOIP in Bangladesh

    by Zahir Uddin

    We the NRB (Non Resident Bangladeshi) earn all over the world but spend in Bangladesh, which is the 2nd largest foreign currency source. To maintain the economic growth, we must be able to communicate with our relative and business frequently in a cost effective way. To make a call to Dhaka from NY (Before VOIP destruction) would cost about 1 cent a minuet, but it is now about 15/20 cents. Government of Bangladesh must do something to solve this problem.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Mar 4th, 2007 @ 8:29am
  • by Zahir Uddin

    We the NRB (Non Resident Bangladeshi) earn all over the world but spend in Bangladesh, which is the 2nd largest foreign currency source. To maintain the economic growth, we must be able to communicate with our relative and business frequently in a cost effective way. To make a call to Dhaka from NY (Before VOIP destruction) would cost about 1 cent a minuet, but it is now about 15/20 cents. Government of Bangladesh must do something to solve this problem.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Mar 22nd, 2007 @ 2:13am
  • VOIP open for all

    by shahajahan

    According to my mind Bangladesh Govt. has to open VOIP gateway otherwise they have to decrease the foreign call charge for the home people otherwise govt. will not control it. If the VOIP operator can give the simple charge so our govt. why not. Our govt. has no real concern about telecommunication. Where the private mobile operator are giving lowest call rate for Home people There our home operator Teletalk is giving high rate then other. Our govt. has to make competition for protection like this corruption.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Nov 11th, 2007 @ 10:36am
  • VOIP destruction; totally wrong dicition by the Go

    by sojib

    unemployments is the one of the biggest challenge in Bangladesh. Depending on VOIP, many investment can be happen in this country and in the other hand thousand of Bangladeshi can be employed.
    Why has government close their eyes. Now the question is that , is the Bangladesh government well wisher for Bangladesh.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Nov 11th, 2007 @ 10:37am
  • VOIP destruction; totally wrong dicition by the Go

    by sojib

    unemployments is the one of the biggest challenge in Bangladesh. Depending on VOIP, many investment can be happen in this country and in the other hand thousand of Bangladeshi can be employed.
    Why has government close their eyes. Now the question is that , is the Bangladesh government well wisher for Bangladesh.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Nov 11th, 2007 @ 10:41am
  • VOIP destruction; totally wrong dicition by the Go

    by Hasenur

    Bangladesh government have warned everyone using VOIP services in Bangladesh. The government feels they are loosing millions of dollars due to VOIP services offering free calls to Bangladesh.

    "Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) is the lone legitimate organization approved by the government for call termination and call origination abroad," an official statement says in Dhaka on Monday.
    Source: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006223535

    I wouldn't be surprised if the Indian government issues a similar warning, which they already talked about but didn't take any serious steps. In future, when companies like Reliance, bharati pressurize the government, even this possibility cant be ruled out.

    I wonder where the SARC countries are really moving to? Perhaps humiliation and degradation of technology and fascist regulations to support a few money-minder telcos.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • May 20th, 2008 @ 9:52am
  • Rise of fascism in Bangladesh

    by Anti-Fascist-Circle

    The country is in the grip of counter-revolutionaries who seized power more than one and half years back with full backing of the army supported by he World Bank,IMF,UN and EU. Butenis of USA and Anwar Choudhury of Britain implanted their agents. Today the country's top politicians are being held under uncivilized fascist laws by this illegitimate foreign-backed regime. A farcical election is being prepared and the army is being pampered by the US and it's failed institutions. They have already purchased Boeings and have sold out Bangladesh's offshore and inland oil and gas reserves and precious minerals to foregn bidders. This should never have been done by an unconstitutional government whose only legitimate task was to hold an election in 90 days.

    This Fackruddin govt's liability in unlawful pacts and deals signed during it's undemocratic tenure will land it in scams and their legal proceedings ten times more severe and harsh than the so caled GATCO case framed by this military and US-backed junta to harass and griveously hurt both the former PMs Hasina and Khaleda.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jun 10th, 2008 @ 4:24pm
  • Terminating VOIP traffic to BANGLADESH without being blocked by ISP

    Hi,

    For people who want to have VOIP calls terminated to Bangladesh but the traffic was blocked by Bangladesh ISP, here is a good working service from http://www.vpn4voip.com :

    * VPN4VOIP.COM - VPN for VOIP is a low cost SSL based VPN service specially designed for VOIP applications. It helps to bypass ISP blocking on VOIP calls utilizing the VPN tunneling technology and assigns mapped static public IP to VOIP gateways for wholesale traffic origination and termination applications. The service is QoS controlled, secure, flexible and reliable. It is claimed to be working 100% with any ISP - Only one open UDP port is needed to get the solution works. You can use their free deployed client software under Windows XP/2003 with two Ethernet cards which changes the PC into a soft VPN router, or just purchase their affordable standalone VPN4VOIP router. Client side can use any dynamic or private IP connections to use the service.

    Send email to contact@vpn4voip.com to get free try on their services.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 2nd, 2008 @ 4:11am
  • cheap international calls to bangladesh

    Now - a - days some UK net work offers international calls like cheap http://www.juvino.com/---14-37-22-.html which is really cheap and amazing service, just for 7p per minute. Call Bangladesh makes convenient now!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 4th, 2008 @ 2:27am
  • Need BD Route for call send.

    by Nurunnobi

    Hello, Dear,
    My need Bangladesh Mobile (8801) Route for call send from Midleast.

    Thanks with
    Nurunnobi

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Nov 7th, 2008 @ 2:57pm
  • new file engine search!

    by anonikm

    Lots of the files at the global web is available for downloading at http://newfileengine.com/

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • May 3rd, 2009 @ 7:06pm
  • wanna be reseller in kuwait

    by Md.Firoj Alam Khan

    hi there ...do u know any one here or any one of voip provider..who can give me reseller in kuwait with credit weekly payment.if u have then email me on this ??

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • May 14th, 2009 @ 11:35pm
  • voip

    by rajo islam

    hello, i went to dd best grey (880) and bd btcli white phone number ,plz ,,,thank,s

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jun 27th, 2009 @ 4:16am
  • voip reseller

    by jahidul hoque rana

    voip call reseller kore 01819442444

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jun 27th, 2009 @ 4:16am
  • voip reseller

    by jahidul hoque rana

    voip call reseller kore 01819442444

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 18th, 2009 @ 3:32am
  • voip reseller bangladesh

    by hk

    Hello,
    I will give Bangladesh Mobile (8801) Route for digitalc all send.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Sep 4th, 2009 @ 12:09pm
  • BTCLI WHITE ROUTE

    by TARAQ

    I HAVE BTCLI WHITE ROUTE ,

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Sep 17th, 2009 @ 10:18am
  • CHEAP BD ROUTE WITH HIGHEST QUALITY

    by Hasan

    Dear Friends

    Who lives in Abroad and left families in BD, they r really in need of good quality route by cheap rate to talk with their familly and friends. here am to giving u helping hand to get those facilities.. please add me in msn or yahoo so that we can step ahead to make a frndly business thru IP.

    a2zroute@live.com

    Thanx
    Hasan

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Oct 10th, 2009 @ 3:43pm
  • WANT RESELLER

    by aziz

    HI I M AZIZ FROM KUWAIT I NEED VOIP A TO ZRESELLER PLICE MAIL ME

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Nov 18th, 2009 @ 12:45pm
  • about rose tel dialer

    by robiul islam

    Need ROSE TE mobile dialer contact number

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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