RIYADH, 12 August — Saudi Telecom Company (STC) is studying prospects of supplying pre-paid mobile chips (SAWA cards) through vending machines installed at customer service offices. The move comes in the wake of growing demand for the chips, especially by expatriates.
"The new measure aims at facilitating the distribution of SAWA chips," Saleh Al-Jasser, general manager of STC’s mobile business unit, told Arab News. Presently, clients have to produce a bank bill to get the cards.
Jasser did not say when the company would introduce the new method of distribution. He said the delay in getting SAWA cards through customer service offices was mainly caused by the huge demand.
STC has distributed about 900,000 pre-paid chips since the service was introduced on April 27.
Arab News found that some illegal vendors were selling forged SAWA cards in Riyadh markets at discounted rates. Clients would not be able to locate these vendors the next day. An informed STC source told Arab News that about 3,000 people had been cheated by these illegal vendors. Some vendors were charging SR700 for SAWA cards with distinguished numbers.
Intending SAWA subscribers are required to fill in an application form, available at STC branches or the designated agencies. The initial charge is SR200 for a SIM card which is activated by ringing 1500. If a subscriber runs out of credit, he can still receive calls for another 60 days. But if his card is not recharged within that 60-day period, he must contact the SAWA service menu at 1500, or dial 166 from his mobile, to ensure his number remains valid.
Saudis account for 29 percent of STC's customers followed by Indians and Filipinos, with their share of 17 percent and 14 percent respectively. The prepaid cards, priced at SR 200 each, are sold through 252 STC offices and 10 approved distributors with a network of 70 branches Kingdomwide.
