BTL says internet phones are illegal
They go by the name of Dialpad, Phonefree, Net-2-Phone and IP Star. What all the devices and software have in common is that they allow internet users to make telephone calls at a fraction of the rates charged by BTL. A growing number of Belizeans, fed up with what they believe are exorbitant fees for international calls, have been subscribing to the new services. On Friday, however, BTL finally reacted: In the form of a press release, which declared the new technology illegal. News Five’s Jose Sanchez spoke to BTL CEO Ediberto Tesucum to find out just where consumers stand.
Ediberto Tesucum, CEO, BTL
“We have taken the opportunity to advise our customers that connecting this box to the BTL network itself and passing voice over the internet is illegal. It does contravene with the telecommunications act as well as it does violate our license.”
Jose Sanchez
“Exactly what difference is there between the box and a regular computer?”
Ediberto Tesucum
“This box is in fact a minicomputer itself. The main purpose of this box is to connect it to a telephone line. Once you have internet access, you can then proceed to dial numbers and get voice over the internet. So it does provide that facility whereas the computer itself well it won’t pass voice unless you connect another device to it or you have software you can download and make use of it.”
“The issues of I.P. Star is just one of those issues that we are addressing. Whether it is Dialpad, that’s also illegal because it’s bypassing the telephone network itself. The provision of the access to internet is precisely that for data itself, not for voice. And if you would look at the terms and conditions the company establishes with the customers. One of those conditions specifies that it is not to be used for passing voice over the internet.”
Jose Sanchez
“If you say it is illegal. Then let us just say for example that it is illegal, then how would you enforce that? Would you cut off access to certain websites? What would you do, because these website are coming more and more everyday?”
Ediberto Tesucum
“Oh, yes it is a matter of us monitoring and taking the necessary measures to try to cope with this type of situation. We are very well aware that every time there are new technologies, new developments and we just have to keep up with these things here as well.”
Jose Sanchez
“But would you block websites in the future?”
Ediberto Tesucum
“If that what we have to do then we will go ahead and would do that as well.”
“We are concerned about traffic that is in violation of the telecommunications act, our license itself. If you look at these IP Star for example, these are merely devices. The company, the sales office is located in Los Angeles California. Earlier, you did mention to me that apart from the box, you would have to buy a card anyway, whether it’s a $20 card, $50 or $100 card. The fact is you are providing a revenue stream from a company that is outside the country of Belize that has nothing to do with the licensing in Belize. What does it mean. BTL loses revenue, government loses out because our revenue streams are lower, so less taxes for the government, our shareholders lose out as well. So we have a right to protect these interests.”
While lawyers may debate the validity of BTL’s internet contract, it is doubtful that consumers will abandon their attempts to save money. The tide of technology is a tough one to swim against and after years of extraordinarily high monopoly profits, BTL may need to learn how to go with the flow.
