PTCL Blocking Skype to Phone Calls

Skype users in Pakistan have reported us that they are facing issues in making Skype Out calls.

This problem is specifically faced if users make calls from Skype to mobile phones or landline numbers on PTCL network. Skype to Skype calls work fine though.

ProPakistani has received several such complaints telling us that Skype to phone calls aren’t connecting on PTCL. They said that same service works seamlessly on other ISPs.

PTCL, however, is denying that it is blocking anything related to Skype services.

Skype support has said that they have also got numerous reports from Pakistan during past one week, suggesting that users are facing issues in making Skype to phone calls.

Skype said that its developers have investigated the problem and found out that issue is with ISPs in Pakistan that is causing disruption in connecting calls from Skype to mobiles phone and landlines numbers.

Skype, in a communication, said that Skype to phone calls are routed through regular telephone numbers, and hence voice data (using G.279 audio codec) must pass through the traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). It further said that networks in Pakistan are possibly blocking voice data at PSTN level and hence this is something which Skype can’t control.

It merits mentioning here that VoIP calls are illegal and not allowed in Pakistan, however, Skype to phone calls were never blocked in the country before this.

There are countless users in Pakistan who use Skype services – and their unlimited packages – for making International calls. Small to medium sized call centres and tele-coaching and training centres heavily rely on Skype for making calls to western countries.