06 December 2007

As of next September, Voice over Internet Protocol services must allow for emergency calls, the watchdog has decreed.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services must allow 999 calls, Ofcom has confirmed.

From 8 September 2008, any such VoIP service which allows users to
make calls to normal national phone numbers must also allow users to
connect to emergency numbers, Ofcom has said.

The communications watchdog previously called on VoIP firms
- such as Skype - to allow users the ability to dial 999 and 112, to
ensure users are not put in danger by relying on a phone service which
does not allow such access