Aug 17, 2006
Officials to investigate blocked messaging sites
It seems that the UAE is having a problem with messaging sites. I do not believe that this is just a problem for Dubai, but for most of the UAE.
Dubai: Telecommunications officials have pledged to launch an investigation to find out what is blocking some popular messaging sites in parts of Dubai.
Emirates International Telecommunications Company, (EITC), which provides internet services for areas including Dubai Internet City, said it was unsure what was stopping the sites from working.
Customers have complained that Yahoo Messenger, which can be used to make telephone calls, is blocked at the moment. Similarly, there have been reports that MSN messenger services are also blockedBoth messaging sites are used by people who want to log on at the same time as friends and chat with them using the internet, sending typed messages that are received instantly by the other person.
In addition, it is possible for those using the services to speak to each other and even to see one another using webcams.One user said: “It’s very frustrating. I thought we were supposed to have more or less unrestricted internet access so I don’t know why this is happening.”
EITC provides internet access to the free zone that includes Dubai Media City and many residential areas, including The Springs and The Greens developments.
Outside this area, Etisalat provides the internet services and sites such as Yahoo Messenger and MSN messenger can be used freely.
A spokesperson for EITC said the company itself was not blocking the sites and it was trying to find out why they were not working.
“We regret the inconvenience that our customers had to experience. However, the blocking of sites is not caused by any action we have taken on the EITC network. We are looking into the matter and hope to quickly identify and rectify the source of the problem.”
“We will report to our customers on our findings and resolution as soon as we receive concrete information,” the spokesperson told Gulf News.