UAE residents have again experienced difficulties using the global internet based video calling app Skype across both the Etisalat and Du networks, with some residents not being able to access it at all and some finding the quality of the connection very poor and experiencing regular disruptions when trying to use it.
Residents have taken to social media to show their frustration and there is no sign of the block being lifted. No official comment has been received from Du, however Etisalat responded with a tweet confirming that as Skype is an unlicensed service in the UAE, access through it’s network has been blocked.
This is not the first time residents have experienced disruption to such services in the UAE, as similar apps such as WhatsApp calling, Facebook messenger calling and Viber are all either blocked or difficult to use, and iPhones sold through the telecoms providers have Facetime disabled.