Five arrested at Walvis for ‘illegal’ net phone service

FIVE foreign nationals were arrested at Walvis Bay on Saturday for allegedly operating illegal Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services .

Officials from Telecom Namibia’s Fraud Monitoring Unit, assisted by the Namibian Police, swooped on three Chinese-owned shops at Walvis Bay. Oiva Angula, acting head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations at Telecom, said yesterday that they also seized the equipment used to offer cheap international calls via an Internet connection.Those arrested were the co-owners of James and Rose shop, the owners of Ganen Lushen Shop and the owner of China Shop – all outlets situated in Walvis Bay’s Sam Nujoma Drive.”The suspects were caught red-handed while attempting to sell the service to a member of the public.It is evident that for these illegal operators, the provision of VoIP to the public is an opportunity for ill-gotten income rather than an opportunity for better service,” according to Angula.The suspects will be charged with violating the Postal and Telecommunication Act of 1992 and are scheduled to appear in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court today.The Act prohibits the provision of any telecommunications service by any person without a licence.Saturday’s raid led to the discovery of electronic equipment used for VoIP connections, bypassing Telecom Namibia’s switching facilities.Among the equipment confiscated were IPstars, a device that helps to make Internet phone calls without using a computer.”By using such devices together with VoIP gateways, multiplexes, modems and so on to bypass Telecom switches, the illegal operators are undermining the country’s laws as well as the viability of Telecom’s network by not paying Telecom Namibia right compensation,” Angula said.He said illegal telephone operators were a challenge confronting not only Telecom Namibia but also the Namibian Government as a whole.”These set-ups not only put the company’s rate-price structure at risk, but drastically reduces the tax benefits that could be reaped by the Government and the citizens alike,” he added.According to Angula, the illegal networks also raised serious security concerns, as these international numbers dialled cannot be easily traced.”Telecom Namibia is not going to be a silent spectator in this.The company will continue to take stern action against anyone who is found unlawfully tampering with its network to provide illegal VoIP services to consumers until the requisite legislation is passed to provide for the licensing of VoIP operators in Namibia,” said Angula.In May, five Chinese nationals were arrested in Windhoek for similar illegal operations.Oiva Angula, acting head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations at Telecom, said yesterday that they also seized the equipment used to offer cheap international calls via an Internet connection.Those arrested were the co-owners of James and Rose shop, the owners of Ganen Lushen Shop and the owner of China Shop – all outlets situated in Walvis Bay’s Sam Nujoma Drive.”The suspects were caught red-handed while attempting to sell the service to a member of the public.It is evident that for these illegal operators, the provision of VoIP to the public is an opportunity for ill-gotten income rather than an opportunity for better service,” according to Angula.The suspects will be charged with violating the Postal and Telecommunication Act of 1992 and are scheduled to appear in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court today.The Act prohibits the provision of any telecommunications service by any person without a licence.Saturday’s raid led to the discovery of electronic equipment used for VoIP connections, bypassing Telecom Namibia’s switching facilities.Among the equipment confiscated were IPstars, a device that helps to make Internet phone calls without using a computer.”By using such devices together with VoIP gateways, multiplexes, modems and so on to bypass Telecom switches, the illegal operators are undermining the country’s laws as well as the viability of Telecom’s network by not paying Telecom Namibia right compensation,” Angula said.He said illegal telephone operators were a challenge confronting not only Telecom Namibia but also the Namibian Government as a whole.”These set-ups not only put the company’s rate-price structure at risk, but drastically reduces the tax benefits that could be reaped by the Government and the citizens alike,” he added.According to Angula, the illegal networks also raised serious security concerns, as these international numbers dialled cannot be easily traced.”Telecom Namibia is not going to be a silent spectator in this.The company will continue to take stern action against anyone who is found unlawfully tampering with its network to provide illegal VoIP services to consumers until the requisite legislation is passed to provide for the licensing of VoIP operators in Namibia,” said Angula.In May, five Chinese nationals were arrested in Windhoek for similar illegal operations.