India orders ISPs to block 39 VoIP sites

India's Department of Telecom (DoT) has issued orders to the nation's ISPs to block VoIP services being offered by 39 off-shore providers. ISPs have been asked to block such web sites due to the country's laws permitting only licensed operators to offer VoIP services.

The telecom enforcement and monitoring division of the DoT said that it found many corporate customers were using off-shore Internet telephony services. Unlicensed VoIP operators represent a "grave security threat to the nation and heavy loss to the Government."  ISPs were requested to implement the order in the "interest of the security of the nation."

However, the DoT went on to say that blocking of overseas VoIP sites shouldn't be confused with the "routine content blocking" of websites as recommended by security agencies.

Foreign service providers that have been "blacklisted" include voiptalk.org, sipgate.co.uk, voiplus.net, and deltathree.com

For more:
- The Hindu Business Line. Post [1].

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