INTERNET
Internet services in the UAE are provided by either Etisalat or du. You should note, however, that all internet usage, is regulated by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). This means that any sites that are deemed to be offensive, either religiously, culturally or politically, are blocked and can’t be accessed.

Etisalat is the main Internet Service Provider (ISP), but du primarily serves the newly developed areas and free zones in the emirate. Currently, residents don’t get to choose their service provider; rather you must go with whoever your home is pre-wired to, although there are plans to broaden the network to each ISP.

Etisalat services range from a basic Al Shamil broadband connection to an eLife bundle that includes internet, TV and landline. For a 1mbps broadband connection with unlimited usage you pay a Dhs.199 installation fee plus Dhs.259 per month. Or, you can opt for an eLife landline, TV and internet bundle, which starts from Dhs.299 per month for 10mpbs plus Dhs.199 installation fee.

du services range from the Talk & Surf internet and landline packages to Talk, Surf and Watch packages, which also include digital TV. Packages range from 8mbps (Dhs.335 per month) to 100mbps (Dhs.810 per month). There is a Dhs.200 installation fee. You can also add on digital TV with packages starting from Dhs.279. Visit any Etisalat or du store to sign up and arrange for a home installation. The whole process takes at least one week.

SKYPE
Downloading voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services such as Skype can be difficult within the UAE due to the sites being blocked here. However, if you have downloaded it in a different country, or within an area where the restriction is lifted, such as in some free zones, it will work when calling another computer, but not when calling landlines or mobiles.

WI-FI
When out and about, look out for Etisalat’s wi-fi hotspots to get online. These are located all over town at various malls, cafes and restaurants and you can connect by purchasing a pre-paid card at the venue. See izone.ae for listings. Existing broadband customers can get a period of free time in these hotspots, depending on their package.