CITC: WhatsApp to be blocked before Ramadan

[email protected] (Arab News)
June 14, 2013

Riyadh, Jun 14: The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) has announced that it will block WhatsApp before Ramadan if the US-based instant free-messaging application does not comply with the requirements set by the Kingdom's telecom regulator.

whatsAPP

But the representatives of WhatsApp have refused to accept the regulatory conditions issued by the CITC, reported Arab News' sister publication Al-Eqtisadiah.

“We have been communicating with WhatsApp and other similar communication platforms to get them to cooperate and comply with the Saudi telecom providers, however nothing has come of this communication yet,” said Abdullah Al-Darrab, governor of the CITC.

Al-Dabban added that Viber was blocked last week for its noncompliance, while WhatsApp and Skype are next on the list, warning: “We will take punitive action against these applications and services if they do not comply with the regulations.”

Asked when WhatsApp services would be blocked, the CITC chief replied: “It is highly likely before Ramadan.”

Al-Darrab said the CITC has requested communication platforms that provide services via the Internet to establish a local server to enable the Kingdom's telecom regulator to monitor user activity.

“We gave them a week to comply and have been communicating with them since March to no avail. Therefore, this has left us with no choice but to block these services, beginning with Viber,” he said.

Founder and CEO of Viber, Talmon Marco, has reportedly said that Viber is currently working on overcoming the block.

Nonetheless, residents in the Kingdom have said that news of blocking Viber and threats to sever other applications are unacceptable and threaten the Kingdom's advancement in global technology and modernization.

“I understand that they want to be able to monitor all types of communications, but the CITC must realize that they can't just cut Saudi residents off from the rest of the world by blocking new services,” Nourah Farida, a Saudi businesswoman, said. “This is because Viber, Skype and WhatsApp are used for personal and business communication.”

Farida concluded that she usually conducts weekly conference calls via Skype with colleagues in the UAE and other countries and that blocking these services is expected to incur heavy costs on local businesses.

“How are we supposed to communicate globally, are we expected to go back to using text messages and e-mails?” she asked.

In 2010, the CITC threatened to ban BlackBerry's instant messaging service, requesting that a local server be established to monitor activity. Eventually, the ban was lifted after BlackBerry's creator, Canada-based Research in Motion (RIM), complied with the regulatory requirements.

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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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