Wednesday 04 / December / 2024
MUSCAT: In a surprising development, WhatsApp users in Oman reported that they were able to make audio and video calls through the app without the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) starting early Wednesday morning. This change marks a significant shift in the country's long-standing restrictions on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services like WhatsApp, which previously required VPNs to function.
Local residents expressed excitement over this new functionality. “I called my friends using WhatsApp this afternoon - it worked perfectly. It’s a great convenience,” said K Rahul, a Muscat-based sales executive. Other users also confirmed seamless connections for both local and international calls.
Despite the widespread reports, the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Oman has not officially announced any regulatory changes enabling the feature. In the past, the TRA has expressed openness to allowing VoIP services, provided they comply with the country’s licensing and legal requirements. Whether this change represents a permanent policy update or a temporary technical modification remains unclear.
For now, the news has been met with enthusiasm, as residents hope the access remains unrestricted. Analysts speculate that this could signal a shift towards broader adoption of such technologies in Oman, aligning with regional trends to enhance digital communication services, though Whatsapp calls are also banned in few other countries in the region.
