A Kuwaiti satellite communications firm says it has struck a deal with a Saudi businessman to provide satellite Internet services in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa.
The service will be launched on a network owned by Kuwaiti company ZakSat, and will include high-speed Internet, multimedia entertainment and interactive services.
Silkinet, a Saudi company owned by Prince Al-Walid ibn Talal, is applying to license ZakSat's products and services, and will be available in the market as soon as the Internet is legalised by the authorities in Saudi Arabia," said SilkiNet's chairman Fuad Izzudin Yashar.
"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," he said. Earlier this month, the billionaire prince invested $200 million in a US-based satellite communications project, Teledesic Network. Using 288 satellites, Teledesic aims to offer worldwide access to telecommunications services and the Internet by 2000.
