JEDDAH, 2 February 2003 — Saudi Telecom Company yesterday slashed telephone charges for Internet use by 25 percent, a press statement issued by the company said. Clients must pay a monthly fee of SR10 to take advantage of the new service.
“Customers who want to avail themselves of the new discounted rates can either contact 907 or visit STC’s customer service office,” the statement said.
The company announced the move at the end of last year following a Cabinet decision to cut Internet charges.
The Kingdom, with a population of 22 million, has about 600,000 Internet subscribers and some 1.5 million users. Up to 70 percent of users are not regular Internet subscribers but use the service “occasionally” through widely available pre-paid cards.
The service is controlled by STC as the sole telephone line provider, King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) as the main domain provider and around 32 private Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
The Saudi telecom giant recently sold 30 percent of its shares in an initial public offering (IPO) in the country’s largest sell-off.
The government announced plans to privatize part of its telecommunications network in September last year.
By a Staff Writer
© Arab News 2003
