Saudi’s CITC fines several operators for violating telecom laws

Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) fined late last week, a number of local telecoms providers for violating several telecommunications laws in the Kingdom.

CITC imposed fines reaching more than SR40 million ($10.67 million) for making promotional offers in violation of CITC’s decisions, using frequencies without licenses, failing to comply with the CITC’s decisions regarding a number of user complaints, violating SIMs, and failing to provide CITC with information required within the specified deadlines.

The penalties targeted each of STC, Etihad Etisalat Co. (Mobily), Mobile Telecommunication Company Saudi Arabia (Zain KSA), and Etihad Jawraa Telecommunications and Information Technology Company (Lebara Mobile KSA).

STC was fined SR31.4 million, Mobily was handed a fine of SR1.2 million, Zain KSA (SR996,000), and Lebara Mobile (SR366,000), while other operators were fined SR6.16 million.

Other violations include causing damage to public telecommunications networks by cutting off a communication cable, sending Spam messages, and providing SMS service without obtaining a license.