RIYADH, 22 October — The Council of Ministers yesterday called for reduction of Internet service charges for end users. It also ordered a crackdown on Internet services received through satellite dishes and warned measures including withdrawal of license.
The weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, also decided to extend the cooperative health insurance scheme to cover Saudis working in private companies within two to three years.
"The meeting emphasized the need for expanding the bandwidth for Internet service and reducing the charges for Internet lines and the charges of end users to avert the use of alternative means," Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said quoting the Cabinet decision.
Meanwhile, a Shoura Council meeting also urged authorities to cut expensive Internet charges.
The Cabinet stressed that all Internet service providers (ISPs) as well as Internet users in the Kingdom must abide by telecommunication regulations and Saudi Telecom Authority (STA) rules. The Cabinet meeting authorized STA to report misuse of telecommunication equipment including satellite dishes by ISPs, companies and individuals to enable authorities to punish violators.
King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology and STA will together monitor adherence by ISPs and recommend measures to be taken against violators. Companies and individuals will be given a formal warning against using satellite dishes for Internet services before taking punitive action. "If they continue to use satellite dishes, STA and KACST will take deterrent actions including withdrawal of licenses," Al-Farsy said.
Referring to the health insurance scheme, the minister said it will cover all Saudis working in the private sector and individuals with whom the Saudis have signed work contracts. "The scheme will be implemented in phases determined by the Health Insurance Council," he said. The first phase will start two years after the scheme’s actual application on expatriates. This period can be extended to three years. The scheme will cover the Saudi family members. Saudis can avail of medical services at government hospitals, if they so desire, but at the expense of insurance companies.
The Cabinet meeting reviewed the recent inspection tour of Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, to the Eastern Province. The crown prince also briefed the meeting on the outcome of his talks with UAE President Sheikh Zayed ibn Sultan Al-Nahayan.
The meeting also reviewed the talks the king and the crown prince had with Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad here, Al-Farsy said, adding that the talks focused on the need to strengthen ties between Islamic countries and unify their ranks.
