Individual investment portfolios in Saudi stock market rise 13.5% in Q1 2025    Saudi Arabia's digital experience maturity index reaches 86.7% in 2025    Makkah region prisons sign strategic MoUs with three universities    For big tech, the future in Saudi Arabia lies in nurturing local expertise    Fakeeh group delivers 1H 2025 revenue of SR1.51 billion, up 13% year-on-year Attributable profit rises to SR154 million, solid 28% year-on-year fuelled by patient growth across the group    World marks 80 years since US dropped atomic bomb on Japan as global powers still trade nuclear threats    More than 100 missing after flash floods in India    UN official says Israel expanding Gaza operations would risk 'catastrophic consequences'    Trump's envoy Witkoff meets Putin as ceasefire deadline looms    Al Hilal fined, banned from next Saudi Super Cup after withdrawal    Ed Sheeran surprises fans with Irish performance    'The Walking Dead' actress Kelley Mack dies at 33    Saudi Arabia to host forum on Hajj and Two Holy Mosques history in November    Saudi Arabia unveils official identity and slogan for 95th National Day    Heritage Commission reports 24 violations of archaeological sites and artifacts in July    Danish zoo asks for unwanted pets to feed its predators    Saudi Arabia's 'Terhal' returns with immersive second edition in Diriyah    Al Qadsiah sign Saudi starlet Musab Al Juwayr from Al Hilal    Salm Al-Dawsari returns to Al Hilal training after injury layoff    Saudi defender Saud Abdulhamid joins RC Lens on loan from AS Roma    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Free communication apps won't be blocked
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 24 - 11 - 2015

JEDDAH — The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) refuted rumors about blocking free communication apps like WhatsApp, Line, Tango etc., Arabic daily Al-Watan reported on Monday.
Consumers had expressed concern after rumors that some telecommunication companies were planning to block free services on the pretext that these were causing loss to them.
"All Internet and telecom companies have to adhere to CITC rules and regulations. They do not have the license to control how consumers use Internet services. The CITC is the only authority to do so," the newspaper quoted a source as saying.
So far the CITC has not found any telecom company blocking free apps, the source said.
"The CITC protects the rights of consumers as well as the rights of service providers," said the source.
Around 15% of smart phones users in the Kingdom already make free calls using various social networking apps on their smart phones.
Saudis have enjoyed a rapid growth of internet and communications technologies (ICTs) in recent years. Access increased to 63.7 percent of the population by the end of 2014, up from 38 percent in 2009.
Saudi Arabia is home to around 19.6 million Internet users. Fixed broadband subscriptions stood at 43.2 percent of all households, with a majority using ADSL connections. Monthly expenditure on 4G broadband ranges from between SR55 (US$11) for a 2GB allowance to SR95 (US$25) for a 20GB allowance.
Mobile broadband penetration has jumped from 47.6 percent to 94.5 percent from 2013 to 2014, with some 29 million mobile broadband subscriptions. Standard mobile phone subscriptions have risen to 53 million, resulting in a penetration rate of 171.4 percent.


Clic here to read the story from its source.