DAMMAM, 6 April 2003 — Illegal mobile phone connections are mushrooming in the Eastern Province without checks or noticeable punitive measures, despite claims by the Saudi Telecom Company that it is working hard to end the practice.

Hundreds of connections through SAWA prepaid cards are sold every day in the cities of Dammam and Alkhobar, and more than 60 percent of them are illegal. According to the procedures laid down by STC for SAWA connections, a subscriber has to fill in a form and then attach a copy of his residence permit (Iqama) or other ID. If customers go through STC to obtain a connection, they have to follow this procedure, and it will then take up to one day before they get a connection. But if subscribers approach any of the hundreds of agents — without ascertaining their legality or illegality — they pay a premium price and the connection is immediately secured. There is no record whatsoever of the subscribers going through such agents.

Arab News spoke with one such agent who sells the cards inside a supermarket in Dammam. The agent offered two packages: One for SR350 and another for SR400. In both packages the agent was offering the same SR200 prepaid chip. The difference in the packages is one of phone numbers. In the cheaper package numbers are convoluted, while in the second package the numbers are easy to remember. Once the deal was agreed, the agent took out a SAWA envelope and handed it over without filling in the form or asking to see a copy of the Iqama.

Arab News repeatedly reminded the agent that he had not taken any form of ID, but he just brushed the issue aside and asked for money. The whole transaction did not take more than five minutes.

A random survey at various mobile phone shops in Alkhobar and Dammam revealed the same pattern everywhere. Only the rates were marginally different from shop to shop.

When STC was approached, the official said that he did not have any information and promised to look into the matter.

Many buyers say that they prefer a connection through an agent rather than from STC because that way they avoid cumbersome bureaucratic procedures. At STC subscribers take the form, go to an authorized bank to deposit money, and go back to STC with the receipt and completed form and copy of ID. Once all these documents are submitted, the STC will assign a time to collect the chip.

“Why go through all such hassles when you can obtain a connection within five minutes after paying just SR150 extra?” asked Aziz Ahmad, a Pakistani who had recently obtained a prepaid connection through an agency.

Saudi Telecom has once again stopped accepting payment at its offices and instead directs its subscribers to the bank for the payment of bills and other services. Earlier it had set up a machine at the office and was accepting payment by ATM SPAN cards. Many subscribers could return to getting a genuine and legal connection through STC rather than from an agent if the earlier practice was resumed.

Police expect that these illegal connections could prove a cause for concern in the future and believe it is important to end illegal connections.