Jambo! 

They floated a Request for Information on the supply of Policy and Charging Control (PCC) and Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) mid last year: http://www.ethionet.et/sites/default/files/bid/RFQ-3209012.pdf

It seems the set up is complete and they will go ahead with implementation (http://www.addisinsight.com/ethio-telecom-charge-services-like-viber-whatsapp/).  There have been network disruptions since last week on VOIP apps and some basic probes I did pointed to IP address blocking but whatever it is they are doing notwithstanding, this raises some issues here. 

The fight back from telcos against OTTs in the name of revenue/tax/infrastructure costs seems to have moved beyond policy. Technical capacity implies that debate is closed on their end. Ethiotel is a special case considering it is fully owned by the government and it is the only telco in Africa’s second most populous country (around 95Million people). It is easier for them to make decisions. For countries with more liberalised markets, and where government is a regulator not a service provider, could it be that the only impediment to adopting such technical capacities is government regulation and oversight? Could it be that Kenyans, for example, are charged to use WhatsApp but at a very negligible fee that no one notices? 

This moves beyond the market - it is a human rights issue. Consumers should not be punished for adopting innovations. 

Moses.