June 22, 2006
Public Utilities Commission
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Technical Notes
1. The Belize Telecommunications Limited (BTL) and the Speednet
Communications Limited (Speednet) are Individual Licensees and can provide
voice services using VoIP under their existing licenses.
2. The PUC considers the provision of voice services using VoIP a data service and
not real time voice service; thus Internet Service Providers can provide voice
services using VoIP.
3. Anyone who downloads any VoIP software on his computer for his personal use
and not on behalf of a third party and does not have an assigned unique telephone
number does not require a license.
4. Only licensed Internet Service Providers are authorized to offer voice services
using VoIP and if the ISP is using the services of a Foreign Internet Telephony
Service Provider, proof must be presented to the PUC of a legal agreement
between the stakeholders.
5. Where the Internet Telephony Services offered by the licensed Internet Service
Provider involve a unique assigned telephone number, the numbers must be preassigned
by the PUC in conformity with the Belize National Numbering Plan.
6. The importation of Analogue Telephone Adapters (ATA) requires type approval
by the PUC. Importers/Retailers must conform to the regulations set out in SI 152.
Only PUC Licensed Providers are authorized to process the activation of these
devices.
7. Anyone who downloads VoIP software on his computer to use with an Internet
Telephony Service Provider outside of Belize not licensed by the PUC with a
unique assigned telephone number is unauthorized.