The Shoura Council will soon host the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) to find out the reasons why it has blocked free Internet calls in and out of the Kingdom using software applications such as Skype and Facebook Messenger, Al-Watan newspaper reported. A source told the Arabic daily that the council also wants to know what decisions the commission has taken in this regard. The move follows after the CITC has allegedly blocked several applications that allow free audio and video calls on the Internet. Many users wonder what led the commission to take such drastic step and whether it will unblock these programs in the future. Many subscribers also expressed concerns over plans by one of the telecom companies to stop unlimited Internet data plans for smart devices. The company said it had suspended unlimited plans for three months. Subscribers allege that telecom companies are trying to revoke the service as they are looking for larger profits at the expense of consumers. Internet subscribers asked the CITC to intervene and prevent telecom companies from taking decisions that harm the interests of the general public. They claimed that unlimited Internet access is vital as the country is moving toward electronic governance and that limited packages will burden the consumers. Maj. Gen. Nasser Al-Shaibani, head of the Shoura committee for transport and information technology, hoped that the CITC would intervene in case telecom companies decide to stop unlimited Internet packages. He indicated that the commission as the regulatory body is the decision maker in this regard and cannot leave the matter to the discretion of individual companies. Al-Shaibani said the commission cannot intervene in the services of private companies but it is responsible for the regulation and control of services. "Online applications are governed by a special understanding between the commission and the companies because some countries have banned the use of these programs to protect national interests," he added. Al-Watan contacted CITC spokesman Fayez Al-Otaibi to find out the truth behind plans to stop unlimited Internet packages by all service providers, but he did not respond even though he had promised to do so before the close of the day. The commission, in a statement, said it had not issued any decisions to block software applications that allow free Internet calls and will follow up on the issue with the service providers.
