NordVPN Promotion

Home / Blogs

Unlimited VoIP Offers Starting to Appear in Africa

Protect your privacy:  Get NordVPN  [ Deal: 73% off 2-year plans + 3 extra months ]
10 facts about NordVPN that aren't commonly known
  • Meshnet Feature for Personal Encrypted Networks: NordVPN offers a unique feature called Meshnet, which allows users to connect their devices directly and securely over the internet. This means you can create your own private, encrypted network for activities like gaming, file sharing, or remote access to your home devices from anywhere in the world.
  • RAM-Only Servers for Enhanced Security: Unlike many VPN providers, NordVPN uses RAM-only (diskless) servers. Since these servers run entirely on volatile memory, all data is wiped with every reboot. This ensures that no user data is stored long-term, significantly reducing the risk of data breaches and enhancing overall security.
  • Servers in a Former Military Bunker: Some of NordVPN's servers are housed in a former military bunker located deep underground. This unique location provides an extra layer of physical security against natural disasters and unauthorized access, ensuring that the servers are protected in all circumstances.
  • NordLynx Protocol with Double NAT Technology: NordVPN developed its own VPN protocol called NordLynx, built around the ultra-fast WireGuard protocol. What sets NordLynx apart is its implementation of a double Network Address Translation (NAT) system, which enhances user privacy without sacrificing speed. This innovative approach solves the potential privacy issues inherent in the standard WireGuard protocol.
  • Dark Web Monitor Feature: NordVPN includes a feature known as Dark Web Monitor. This tool actively scans dark web sites and forums for credentials associated with your email address. If it detects that your information has been compromised or appears in any data breaches, it promptly alerts you so you can take necessary actions to protect your accounts.

VoIP has been banned across most of Africa for a long time, feared by the state-owned telcos as a way for alternative service providers to bypass them with international calls, eroding a very lucrative part of their business. At profit margins of several thousand percent in some cases, it is not surprising that unlicensed operators have sprung up all over the continent, risking huge fines, confiscation of their equipment and even jail terms.

The liberalisation of VoIP in Africa started in 2004, led by some of the continent’s more forward-looking governments which introduced value-added network services (VANS) licences or even completely new service- and technology-neutral licensing regimes. These include South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana, as well as some of the more progressive North African markets: Morocco, Algeria and Egypt.

However, it is one of the more unexpected places where unlimited VoIP offers have started to appear: In Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), two of the country’s leading ISPs are offering flat rates for unlimited VoIP calls to certain destinations, including North America, Europe and China. Buckets of minutes are available for calls to India, Japan and Australia.

This development is remarkable, since broadband services in general are still relatively expensive in Cote d’Ivoire.

The two ISPs, Aviso and AfNet are controlled by the country’s leading fixed and mobile network operators—Cote d’Ivoire Telecom/Orange (France Telecom), and South Africa’s MTN which also owns alternative fixed-line operator Arobase. The two international telecom giants are working to integrate their fixed, mobile and broadband/Internet operations in Cote d’Ivoire more closely in a bid to transform themselves into true converged service providers.

By Paul Budde, Managing Director of Paul Budde Communication

Paul is also a contributor of the Paul Budde Communication blog located here.

Visit Page

Filed Under

Comments

IDNs Alex Tajirian  –  Dec 7, 2009 11:23 PM

Does this dampen the demand for IDNs in these countries, as it is easier to talk on the phone than send email? How about reducing potential spam using IDN emails?

Rather the contrary, Alex - it is Peter Lange  –  Dec 8, 2009 6:54 AM

Rather the contrary, Alex - it is another contributing factor to the rapid uptake of Internet services in general in sub-Saharan Africa that we see over the coming years, driven by new international and national fibre and wireless/3G mobile broadband access. The whole sector is still very much under-developed in the region due to poor infrastructure and high prices. IDNs certainly a factor in French-speaking Africa, also some Portuguese, and Arabic in the North. And there is a lot of spam and Internet fraud originating in the region - IDNs may help with that. Peter Lange Senior Analyst Africa www.budde.com.au

Comment Title:

  Notify me of follow-up comments

We encourage you to post comments and engage in discussions that advance this post through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can report it using the link at the end of each comment. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of CircleID. For more information on our comment policy, see Codes of Conduct.

CircleID Newsletter The Weekly Wrap

More and more professionals are choosing to publish critical posts on CircleID from all corners of the Internet industry. If you find it hard to keep up daily, consider subscribing to our weekly digest. We will provide you a convenient summary report once a week sent directly to your inbox. It's a quick and easy read.

Related

Topics

IPv4 Markets

Sponsored byIPv4.Global

DNS

Sponsored byDNIB.com

Brand Protection

Sponsored byCSC

Threat Intelligence

Sponsored byWhoisXML API

Cybersecurity

Sponsored byVerisign

New TLDs

Sponsored byRadix

Domain Names

Sponsored byVerisign

NordVPN Promotion