RIYADH – The Commission for Information Technology and Communication (CITC) has extended by 45 days the grace period for taking fingerprints for prepaid mobile telephone service.
The grace period extension for prepaid service begins on Monday and ends on June 2, 2016 (26/8/1437H), Saudi Press Agency quoted CITC as stating Sunday.
CITC also announced that the grace period for updating postpaid cards (mobile telephone service with bills) and authenticating them by giving one’s fingerprint has been extended for 90 days, ending on July 28, 2016(23/10/1437H).
CITC said in its statement on Sunday: “If the data are not authenticated with a fingerprint during the grace period, the mobile telephone (SIM) card that has not been updated will be suspended for two weeks. If it is not updated during the suspension period, the service for the subscriber will be disconnected completely.”
CITC further said: “This measure comes as an extension of CITC’s continuous efforts, in coordination with the other related authorities, to protect all subscribers in telecommunication and information technology services, safeguard their rights, prevent exploitation of their personal data, and put a limit to any negative effects due to the misuse of telecommunication services, hence violating the telecommunication services regulations and their executive bylaws.”
The CITC issued directives earlier to all telecommunication service providers in the Kingdom to implement the authentication service by taking the fingerprints of subscribers in the mobile telephone services as of Jan. 21, 2016 (11/4/1437H).
