Riyadh, Asharq Al Awsat- The communications and information technology commission of Saudi Arabia has completed the transfer of operations to oversee internet services from the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology to the Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC) in accordance with a cabinet resolution.

The transfer was completed progressively to guarantee that the process would not affect the existing internet services in the kingdom and to lead to an improvement in services as well as a decrease in costs. Furthermore, the commission met the requirements for supervising the essential screening operation and registering the names of domains and the main service administration for the Saudi domain (sa). STC has established a new internet portal in Riyadh as well as in Jeddah to improve internet services and has successfully transferred all internet service providers to the new portal.

The transfer is considered an important step towards privatization of the communication and information technology sector in the kingdom and towards improving the standard of its services. It is also preparation for the service providers to begin using the international portals. This would support the expansion of communication services, information technology and in particular the internet in the kingdom. In this context, the communications and information technology commission expressed its gratitude to all those who assisted in the transfer operation and to those who participated in the meetings and workshops and especially thanked STC, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and the internet service providers for their cooperation.