RIYADH, 1 December 2006 — Mobily has achieved the fastest growth rate — 74 percent — in the 3G and 3.5G services, the Kingdom’s second mobile service operator said yesterday, quoting the GSM Association, a global organization for mobile phones.
Mobily serves more than 345,000 subscribers for its 3G and 3.5G services, while it has a total of 4.8 million subscribers. This achievement was registered in the first four months after the launch of the 3G in June. The subscribers can use 2G and 3G on the same chip without replacement.
The 3G subscribers get several free added-value services in addition to features such as video conversations, high-speed Internet access and television channels and games and watching video clips.
Four months ago, Mobily announced the launch of the advanced third generation mobile services (3.5G) that allows its current subscribers to experience and enjoy numerous services, such as video calling, video streaming, video conferencing, high speed Internet, multiplayer gaming, etc.
The state-of-the-art services have been effective since June 27. Mobily subscribers have the added value of using their current 2G SIM cards on the 3.5G, without replacement or cost.
Most of the 3.5G (HSDPA) services require 2G and 3.5G phone handsets, except for the video calling which works only on 3G handsets. One of the services the 3.5G will provide is the access to the Internet with 3G speed from laptops using the mobile as a modem. The setting of the Internet will not be different from 2G web setting. The speed exceeds four mega per second for download.
Subscribers can watch TV channels live on the 3.5G, which include Al Arabiya channel, CNBC Arabiya channel, Saudi TV, Space Toon, etc. “Mobily offers a very competitive rate compared to other operators,” a Mobily spokesman said.
The cost of video telephony is 0.80 halalas per minute for postpaid subscribers, whereas a minute costs one riyal when using the TV streaming. Mobily does not demand any monthly fee for all of its third generation services.
Mobily has just completed its own 3.5G network which covers 19 cities in the Kingdom, consisting more than 900 base stations. Mobily, which started its operation with 2.5 G network last year, was the first Saudi company to obtain the license of the 3G and 3.5G mobile services, and has been able to build an excellent infrastructure of both generations in a record time.
