Businesses threatened, Russia Block Skype?

The arrival of internet phone service Skype, does not fully be met with open hands by a number of countries, including in Russia. By reason of the protection business in the country, a Russian attempt to create regulations blocking Skype.

The planning of this procurement regulations appear in meeting which was held by Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE) that present the biggest business in Russia. The business apparently is concerned the existence of Skype will undermine their business.

With internet-based services provided, Skype would benefit foreign operator, and vice versa will harm Russian telecommunications company.

"Some of the IP telephony market brands such as Skype and ICQ is owned by foreigners and that is why we need to protect domestic producers in this area," the lobby group said in a statement cited from the NYTimes, on Monday (27/7/2009).

This is not the business of play. RUIE want the government to support the action they take part. This is related to security reasons.

In addition to bringing bad impact to telecommunications company, Skype was also an impact on national security. With the conversation that can not be recorded because the encryption system that they have, Skype is often used by the criminal investigation to obscure, at least, is what happened in Italy.

Therefore, no wonder now if Russia will follow other countries that took part in trying to block the services that were born in Estonia and is now owned by eBay.

Previously, in Germany, the Netherlands and in France also tried to regulating this VoIP phone calls. They were blocked because they threaten the income that earned by phone companies.