Belizeans are finally truly free of the PUP-Ashcroft secret Accommodation Agreement now that Prime Minister Barrow has declared an end to the ban on Voice over Internet Protocol services (VoIP). The agreement featured special conditions such as a Government guarantee of 15% return on investment, no business tax and custom duties, and the ban of VoIP, among others. The change of Government and subsequent nationalization of the company ended most of the special arrangements between Government and the Belize Telemedia Limited. However, the ban on VoIP lived on.
VoIP is a program that takes analog audio signals, like the kind you hear when you talk on the phone, and turn them into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet. The program allows the user to bypass the phone company and its fees when making calls. There are three ways in which VoIP is used. One is with an analog telephone adaptor (ATA). The ATA allows you to connect a standard phone to your computer or your Internet connection for use with VoIP. The ATA is an analog-to-digital converter. It takes the analog signal from your traditional phone and converts it into digital data for transmission over the Internet. The second way is by using a specialized phone called an IP Phone. The IP Phone is similar to regular phones but it comes with an Ethernet connector instead of a phone connector. It can be connected to any router and used to make calls. The third and easiest way to use VoIP is from computer to computer. The most common form is video chatting. There are several sites that allow video chatting for free or at very cheap monthly rates.
The Belize Telemedia Limited is projecting a loss of almost $7 million for the year as a result of the enabling of VoIP services. Karen Beavans, Chief Operating Officer of BTL, said, “We expect to enable VoIP by Tuesday [April 30] because the Prime Minister said by the end of the month.” The end of the ban on VoIP means that the Ashcroft chapter in the history of BTL is finally closed.
