RIYADH, 1 August 2006 — The Saudi Telecom Company (STC) announced yesterday that it has expanded its international roaming services for its Sawa prepaid calling cards. The STC now has deals with 353 networks, which help reduce the cost of international roaming.

Saudi Arabia’s first telecommunications company, which is partially state owned and competes with Mobily for the country’s fast-growing market for mobile services, has recent agreements recently with Vodafone’s networks in Egypt, Italy, Spain and the UK, as well as Jordan’s Mobilecom and France’s SFR. Customers that use these networks in those countries can save between 15 and 40 percent, according to the STC.

The company recommends that customers charge their cards adequately before departing to destinations abroad. The company offers services at airport kiosks in Saudi Arabia. Customers can also charge up their cards from abroad by calling +966504001500.

“Our objective is to upgrade our customer services systems to be on par with other international systems promoted by other telecom companies,” said STC President Saud ibn Majid in a statement yesterday.

For more about the countries covered by the company’s international roaming service, visit: www.stc.com.sa.