External VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) service providers such as Viber are not yet licensed to operate in the U.A.E., the country's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has said.
In a brief statement on Wednesday, the regulator said: "We have recently seen local newspapers and social networks publishing news with regards to the "Viber" service being blocked in the U.A.E.
"We would like to clarify that the service was never licensed in the U.A.E. Moreover, the VoIP regulatory policy has only licensed "Etisalat" and "du" (the licensees) to provide telecommunication services in the U.A.E., including VoIP services.
"This policy still exists and has not been amended."