COMMUNICATION

TELECOMMUNICATION
Kuwait has an efficient telecommunication system with telephone, telex, fax and internet access to all parts of the world. Courier services are also readily available. Telephones are installed promptly provided the relevant documentation supporting the application is complete.

Local Calls
Local telephone calls are free, and most shops will allow a brief telephone call to be made without charge, there are few telephone kiosks on the streets.

Installing a telephone at your residence

Documents required for application of a telephone line are a copy of your Civil ID and a copy of your lease contract.
Note down the cable number of the telephone box which will be available at the connection box of your building. This can be obtained from the watchman or 'Haris' of your building. In case you have difficulty in locating this number, take the telephone number of a resident in your building and you can request the telephone office to provide the cable number.
Pay the fees - Local connection KD 65 (service charges to setup a line - KD 30, rent per annum KD 30, stamp fee - KD 5).
The telephone office will issue you your telephone number and normally within 3 days your line gets connected. However, sometimes they tell you to go to the lineman's office and ensure that he comes along to connect the line.
Direct dialling is possible to most parts of the world. For a private international line expatriate subscribers have to put down a deposit of KD 500. Overseas calls are itemized on the monthly telephone bill which must be settled promptly to avoid disconnection (a period of 10 days grace is given).

Cancellation / Disconnection

Go to your telephone office. Carry your original Civil ID and a photocopy
Explain to the concerned person in charge of cancellations that you want your telephone cancelled. Please note that telephone number can only be transferred within the same area code otherwise you have to disconnect your existing line and re-apply for a new line
Go to the accounts section and ensure that all dues have been settled.
Disconnection of your line can be deferred for a couple of days if requested.

Inter-Key Cards

This service allows card holders to make foreign calls through any telephone line whether it has the international facility or not.
The charges are slightly higher than the rates offered by the Ministry.
How to use :
Card holders have to call 801222 and then follow the instruction of the computer in any of the four available languages.

Public Services
Telephone kiosks are found in the Telecommunications Center in Murgab, at main post offices and the airport, and in a few supermarkets and shopping mall. Overseas calls can be made from kiosks in the Telecommunications Center and the post offices using magnetic cards purchased at the counter for KD3, KD5 or KD10. The card is inserted in the telephone and the number dialed directly. The charge is the same as for an ordinary telephone with an international line. Unused portions of cards can be used for further calls but cannot be refunded. The Telecommunications Centre provides facsimile, telex and phototelegram services. Facsimile services are also available at main post offices, and international telephone and facsimile services are available at the main hotels. The hotels however usually charge double the MOC call rate, though long-term guests may be able to negotiate a discount.

Pagers & Mobile Phones
Kuwait has two service provider operating presently,
Wataniya Telecom
Zain (formerly MTC)

Wataniya Telecom provides advanced GSM wireless telecommunications services and paging. The state-of-the-art intelligent network platform allows the provision of all services, including data transmission, voice mailbox, international roaming, virtual private networks, SMS and tailored billing (including pre-paid GSM services) Tel: 805555

Zain provides mobile telephone services GSM, ETACS, paging services, Numeric, Alphanumeric, paging service with ERMES technology (WASAL), Automatic Vehicle Location System - AVLS, Voice Mail Service, Mobifax & Mobidata Services, International Roaming Service, Satellite services, e-nine Internet service, Kalimat alphanumeric pagers, Thuraya Satellite Facilities and GPRS (General Packet Radio Services - coming soon) Tel: 4842000

The authorities may give the green signal to one more mobile telecommunication company to enter the country's market making it the third mobile service provider in Kuwait.

The Ministry of Communications has launched its fifth national phone plan, whereby an eighth digit will be added to phone numbers, both landlines and mobiles. This plan is delayed for another year or so due to project priority reasons.

Internet Services
Kuwait is linked to the internet and there are several service providers. Some service providers allow unlimited access while others charge a small time-based usage fee. Time-based pre-paid internet cards are also available for KD 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 which allow internet use for 2 to 100 hours. Kuwait also has quite a few 'internet cafes' which charge 250 fils to 500 fils per hour for access. While DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) offered by Internet suppliers gives the advantage of connecting to internet without engaging your phone line, the new concept 'Teleweb' introduced by Global Direct Television and Shownet Internet Solutions which provides all computer capabilities in the set-top box, (Tel: 807007). Though this system engages your telephone line, the download speed is 10-20 times faster than conventional Internet access and saves the cost of a computer. Gulf Telecom offers internet through satellite with faster downloads at affordable price (Tel: 2468111 - Fax: 2468222). Quality Net (Q-net) offers DSL connection which allows users to talk on the phone while using internet (Tel: 804444). The Ministry of Communications (MOC) is also studying the possibility of providing direct Internet access to subscribers at lower rates. MOC is providing the existing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with needed lines and bandwidth.