Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH – The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) has slapped fines worth a total of over SR7 million on telecom service providers in the Kingdom for various violations. The companies include Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain), Etihad Jawra (Lebara), and Virgin Mobile Saudi Arabia.

The punitive measures, according to a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report, were taken by the committee to consider violations of the communications regulations after it found them guilty of committing violation of several regulations. CITC, the telecom regulator, said that the committee imposed fines amounting to SR2,753,500 on STC; SR1 million on Mobily; SR48,000 on Zain, while the tickets issued against Lebara are to the tune of SR336,000 and SR 544,000 against Virgin Mobile. A number of other violators have also been fined, amounting to a total of SR2,550,000, the regulator said while confirming that all these fines were imposed following a final decision taken on such violations.

The commission revealed that the fines were issued for a number of violations based on decisions published in its website. “The commission continues to monitor the telecommunications companies for their adherence to the regulations so as to prevent any negative business practices. This is to protect the rights of consumers as well as the public interest in addition to promoting fair competition among service providers,” the regulator said in a statement.