Burma bans popular internet telephony, Mediaring Talk

Mediaring Talk was banned by Burma's Ministry of Communication, Post & Telegraph as of mid-July, said an official working at one of Rangoon's internet cafes, the Cyber World.

"Earlier customers were able to use Mediaring Talk. But it is banned now, it has been about a week or two that it can no longer be used," the official added.

Mediaring Talk, which allowed free phone calls to Australia, Canada, China Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, UK and USA and provided low rates to call other countries, was introduced in Rangoon about six months ago. It became popular among users who wished to communicate with people abroad, said an official of an internet café the popular 'Junction 8' shopping centre in Rangoon.

"Now we have no customers using Mediaring Talk. And it has been about a month that our internet connection has become very slow. And if internet is slow Mediaring Talk does not work. Even though we made enquiries about the ban no specific reasons were given," she added.

"Mediaring Talk might have been banned because it is cheap. In cyber cafés they only need to pay the internet usage charges to call overseas. Here all voice chats are banned," the official at Cyber World told Mizzima.

According to observers, banning the popular free voice calls, and slowing down of the internet connection since early July, before the opening of the National Convention and Burma's Martyr's Day, could have been a step by the government to prevent dissidents from communicating in and outside Burma.

While it is extremely difficult to use internet telephony, currently customers are found widely using VZO Chats and Google talk.

"At present customers mainly use the VZO and G talk but it has been only about three days that people could start using Gtalk again," the official added.