“Virtual communications services do not require any new network,” the minister said and emphasized his ministry’s desire to further improve telecom services.
Virtual communication technology refers to any means of interacting with others in virtual reality, more commonly known as cyberspace that has globalized the communication process by making interaction with others more accessible.
Mulla underscored the efforts made by his ministry to improve communications services during the Haj season in order to meet the growing requirements of the millions of pilgrims to contact their loved ones in their respective countries.
He said Saudi Arabia was the first country to provide 4G cell phone services in the Middle East and Africa. However, he said the spread of the service would take some time as it required the development of the existing networks. He said the Kingdom’s telecom service providers were charging “moderate” prices.
Referring to cases filed by some service providers, he said it proved the credibility and transparency of the Kingdom’s telecom system that allows operators to take legal action in order to protect their legitimate rights.
"The telecom system in the Kingdom determines the relation between customers and service providers," the minister said. "There have been issues related to foreign factors such as disruption of BlackBerry services, in which Saudi service providers had no role," he pointed out. The BlackBerry incident occurred when the Canadian company upgraded its system.
Mulla said the ministry would intervene if the services were disrupted as a result of the work of local providers. "There are rules and regulations that allow us to punish companies if necessary," he said. He refuted suggestions that two cell phone companies faced financial difficulties due to competition or increase in license value. "These companies entered the Kingdom after studying the market. We had not asked them to pay a specific amount, it was the companies that took the decision on how much to pay for the license."
He said the license value paid by the three mobile phone companies was almost similar and there is no point in blaming either the ministry or the Communications and Information Technology Commission on it. "We don't have any plan to license a new company to provide cell phone service," Mulla said.
