Viber claims to have 200 million users worldwide Saudi authorities have banned the VOIP (voice-over-internet protocol) and messaging service Viber. The blockage comes after a deadline set by Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission had passed.
In March, Saudi authorities warned Viber and other encrypted messaging services that they would be blocked unless they provided \"a means to be monitored.\"
Earlier, reports suggested that Viber, which claims to have over 200 million users worldwide, was close to coming to an agreement with the Saudi government, but that appears to have fallen through.
\"We regret the decision of the Saudi authorities to block Viber,\" a Viber spokeswoman said in a statement. \"We love our millions of users in Saudi Arabia and hope to restore service in the coming days. We encourage Saudi users to follow Viber on Facebook and Twitter for updates.\"
Millions of expatriate workers increasingly rely on free messaging services to stay in touch with their relatives, whom they may not see for years.
Both Saudis and expatriates in the country have reacted to the block on Viber with considerable apprehension.
The decision has also been largely condemned in the Saudi Twitter community.