Surfing in the desert

Internet access in Saudi Arabia will be strictly censored

Saudi Arabia is to allow its citizens to have direct access to the Internet for the first time.

The Saudi Royal Family has delayed legalising the Internet in the kingdom because of fears over allowing people to access what Muslims believe is offensive material.

Saleh ibn Abdurahman al-Athel, the head of the King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology, has announced that select local firms can tender to provide direct access.

Saudi Arabia worries the microchip will allow corrupting material into the country

The Arab News daily quoted him saying they will receive tenders from companies interested in becoming Internet Service Providers between Saturday May 10 and Wednesday June 3.

The science and technology city has set up a special unit which would "supervise the whole process of linking Saudi Arabia with the rest of the world through Internet services", he said.

Access to the Internet in Saudi Arabia, where foreign publications are strictly controlled and censored, has been delayed by worries about material considered offensive.

Internet access in other Gulf Arab countries is provided by state telecommunications monopolies through proxy servers that block politically, socially or culturally sensitive sites.

Singapore is another country where Internet access is tightly regulated

Saudi Arabia has now completed a study on how to prevent objectionable material that is against the country's religious and moral values from entering the kingdom through the Internet.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a nephew of King Fahd's and one of Saudi Arabia's wealthiest investors with a fortune estimated at $11bn, has recently expanded his Internet interests.

Prince Alwaleed's portfolio includes stakes in Netscape Communications Corp, Apple Computer and Motorola.

Last month one of Kingdom Holdings' technology companies, SilkiNet, signed a partnership deal with Kuwait-based communications firm ZakSat to provide regional satellite Internet services.

"Efforts are ongoing to provide the best of modern technology, while ensuring that this does not conflict with the traditions and culture of the region," SilkiNet chairman Fouad Yashar said at the time.