Telecom firms to end free roaming service from Friday

Telecommunication companies will halt their free roaming service from tomorrow.
Subscribers will no longer be able to receive calls, send or receive text messages or use the Internet as if they were still in the Kingdom.
The previously free service is to be replaced with pre-paid cards depending on the geographical distribution of world countries.
The pre-paid card will include a monthly fee for the package with specified minutes.
Earlier, the Communications and Information Technology Commission had said that the policy of packages and offers will be affordable for students studying aboard, as well as families residing outside the country on vacation or other purposes.
The commission said at the time that individuals and business sectors outside the Kingdom benefited from the service at the expense of local communications.
People transferred millions of SIM cards outside the country and made international calls at rates equal to that of local Kingdom rates.
In a statement to its customers, Saudi Telecom Company (STC) said: “Pursuant to the decision of the CITC to stop free call-receiving feature while roaming, we would like to inform that starting Friday, April 26, the minute rate for receiving calls while roaming will be according to the rates published on the STC website. The decision is binding on all mobile phone operators in the Kingdom.”