RIYADH -- The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) has granted a new 3G mobile license to Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC) for a fee of SR753.7 million. The new deal, completed in Riyadh yesterday, will enable STC to improve and expand its service network in the increasingly competitive telecom sector.
"We are very happy to hand over the 3G license to STC after evaluating their application," said Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Suwail, CITC's governor. "We expect STC to offer 3G services to the public within the next 18 months."
Al-Suwail also announced the launch of the Saudi Home Computing Initiative, which aims at bridging the digital divide and ensuring more PC penetration in Saudi homes.
This initiative, which seeks to raise computer literacy and Internet awareness, will make it easier for a million Saudi families to own a high quality PC with Internet access and training packages.
Al-Suwail said that by the end of this week, the first PC would be given to a Saudi family from one of the points of sale in Riyadh. He added that the main objective was to get one million PCs into Saudi homes within next five years.
The families will be asked to pay an installment of SR100 every month for the PC together with a fixed-line telephone bill.
Asked how the general public would benefit from the 3G mobile license granted to STC, Al-Suwail said this deal would contribute to the improvement in the quality of telecom services in the country, reduce the cost of services and create jobs for Saudi citizens.
"We want our citizens to enjoy functions on their mobile handsets that used to be available only on a desktop computer connected to the Internet," said the CITC chief.
With the upgrade to 3G, customers will be able to access the features of the advanced 3G services at higher transmission speeds and convenience. In order to use the new services and higher transmission speeds, customers would need 3G-enabled mobile handsets. "These are starting to be commercially available here", said Al-Suwail, and reaffirmed CITC's commitment to promote fair competition among telecom companies in the Kingdom.
Al-Suwail said the Saudi Home Computing Initiative would be a model for partnership between public and private sectors. CITC had signed MOUs with Internet providers and private companies to operate this program.
The package with the PC, which will be given to Saudi families under this initiative, includes Microsoft professional office and a number of Arabic, cultural, religious and linguistic software for all ages. It also includes free Internet cards for 15-hours a month for two years.
This initiative is led by the CITC, which acts as a regulatory authority for the telecommunication companies. STC is now improving its mobile and Internet services to attract customers and has reduced the service charges for mobile installation and ended international roaming and account upgrade charges.
M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan
© Arab News 2005
