[aorth]

The article mentions several reasons for blocking IP-based voice and text chat programs. This type of confusion is common in other countries in the region. Lovely part of the world here (posting from Jordan, where Skype reliably, consistently drops after one minute or less)!

> regulations aimed to protect users’ personal information and block content that violated the kingdom’s laws.

Censoring content.

> Saudi Arabia began blocking them from 2013, wary that such services could be used by activists.

Blocking political dissent.

> The decision to lift the blocks could negatively impact Saudi Arabia’s three main telecoms operators - Saudi Telecom Co (STC), Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) and Zain Saudi

Protecting business revenues of traditional telecom companies.