Riyadh, 28 July 2008: Saudi Telecom, the region's largest telecommunications company, has launched its new Unified International Roaming service effective August 2008 covering most of the Middle East, Europe, Indonesia, Turkey, and South Africa comprising 30 global telecommunications operators announced Eng. Saud Al Daweesh, STC President & CEO.  This network will provide travellers with fixed and low cost rates for calls during their stay at these countries and based on the Company's transparent approach customers will receive a message explaining the roaming rates as well as the preferred roaming network in these respective countries.

"STC's Unified International Roaming Network is a strategic step that follows and complements global communications trends," said Eng. Al Daweesh. "By partnering with the leading mobile operators in the region we have established a tariff of economical rates with a discount reaching 69% in some countries and providing great value for our customers who travel extensively across the region and ensuring both transparency and fixed rates."

The first phase of the Unified International Roaming service includes leading mobile operators in the region such as Batelco in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Oman Mobile and Nawras in Oman, du in the UAE and Wataniya in Kuwait.  Covering the rest of the Middle East, STC's partners are Umniah in Jordan, Vodafone in Egypt, and SyriaTel and MTN in Syria.  STC's Unified International Roaming Network covers STC companies which include Axis in Indonesia, Avea in Turkey, Cell-C in South Africa, in addition to Vodafone Group starting with Egypt and covering the rest of the European continent and Australia.

This service will offer unique prices for travellers especially when making calls back to the Kingdom as well as receiving calls.  Other price discounts include SMS and internet usage based on the agreed tariffs with the operators.

"Excellence in customer service is our number one priority," concluded Eng. Al Daweesh. "By enhancing our efficiency, we continue to maintain our leading market position and generate additional growth internationally by strategically planned developments, such as the Unified International Roaming Network, in order to fulfil STC's personal communications potential to the maximum extent by providing the best service with the least cost."

-Ends-

About Saudi Telecom
Saudi Telecom Company (STC), a public company listed on the Saudi stock exchange, is the Kingdom's leading telecommunications service provider and the biggest in the entire Middle East with a workforce of more than 21,000, of which 90% are Saudi nationals, and proudly serves mores than 17 million mobile customers and 4.5 million fixed line subscribers.  STC has the largest telecommunications network and infrastructure for mobile services in the Middle East, having installed more than 13,000 mobile base stations spreading over 35,000 sqm of road to cover more than 98% of the inhabited land area.

STC has received numerous local and international awards in recognition of its excellence as a world class telecommunications service provider and for its corporate social responsibility programs, the most recent being: Arabian Business Best Telecommunications Company of the Year 2008; Best Company for Cooperative Training 2008; CSR Leadership Award in the Middle East 2008; King Abdulaziz Quality Award 2008.

In order to facilitate communications and keep its customers in constant contact during their travels, Saudi Telecom signed 858 international agreements with operators around the world.  This included prepaid and postpaid roaming agreements signed with 427 operators in 158 countries, SAWA prepaid service roaming agreements with 98 operators in 53 countries, 3G roaming agreements with 26 operators in 17 countries, visual international calls service agreements with 25 operators in 18 countries, JAWAL Net roaming service with 192 operators in 75 countries, and international MMS service with 90 operators in 52 countries around the world.

For information contact:
Farah Ibrahim
TRACCS
Tel: +9714 3672530
Fax: +9714 3672531
Email: farah.ibrahim@traccs.net

© Press Release 2008