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Saudi Arabia may cut Internet charges

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is considering a plan to slash some Internet charges by around 25 percent, a Saudi official said on Sunday.

He said a study was being conducted by King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), the body charged with supervising the net, to determine the size of the cut. He said the cuts could be around 25 percent.

"A study is being carried out here (KACST). God willing, there will be a reduction in the rates in the next two weeks..." the official told Reuters by telephone.

Saudi Arabia began to provide Internet services to its 18 million inhabitants in early 1999 through KACST.

Users and some Internet service providers had complained that the charged rates were too high.-Reuters