Saudi to punish 'immoral' use of 3G phones

RIYADH - Saudi Arabia will punish anyone using third generation (3G) mobile phones for purposes deemed immoral in the conservative Muslim kingdom, the state telecommunications regulator says.

The warning from the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) came on Saturday as it officially handed over the oil-rich kingdom's first 3G licence to mobile phone operator Ettihad Etisalat.

3G mobile phones can access the internet, which is strictly controlled in Saudi Arabia, and receive high quality video clips from adult sites.

"We expect (3G) providers to follow the same rules as internet providers," said CITC Information Technology General Manager Ahmed Sindi.

"The challenge is that this technology is commensurate with our moral values. There will be laws and procedures that govern the use of the technology and people will be punished for its misuse."

A ban was recently overturned on the import and sale of mobile camera phones. Religious leaders said they are used to invade privacy, particularly of women.

Fights have been triggered at weddings and girls schools after camera phones were used to take and distribute pictures of unveiled women, newspapers have reported. Under Saudi Arabia's strict Islamic rules, women must cover their heads in public.

Ettihad Etisalat, Saudi Arabia's second mobile phone operator, paid around 750 million riyals ($279m) for the 3G licence.

The firm distanced itself from what material the technology could be used to view.

"We will be the facilitator but never a pipeline," said Managing Director Khalid al-Kaf.

Kaf said he expected strong demand for 3G services when they are introduced by 2006.

Ettihad Etisalat's 1 billion riyal initial public offering was 50 times oversubscribed late last year. A quarter of Saudi Arabia's native population applied.

Saudi Arabia's rapidly growing telecoms sector is gradually being opened up to competition, ending the monopoly of state-owned Saudi Telecommunications Co..

- REUTERS