The Saudi Arabian Commission for Telecommunications and Information Technology has announced that it is importing one million computer systems to be offered for sale on an easy-pay plan. Purchasers will pay monthly installments of SR100 [U.S. $26.7] over a four-year period. The Commission is taking this initiative in order to create a computer-literate generation that can cope with fast-paced developments in technology.

The Commission also announced that it plans to license a third mobile-phone operator by the end of 2006. Existing licensees are the Saudi Telecom Company (STC); and Etisalat Ittihad, which is expected to start operating mid-2005. A second land-phone operator will also be licensed, opening up competition to STC. Bids for this will be open to international companies. No license for data transmission service is expected until 2006.

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