Saudi CITC Launches Free Local Roaming Service

The Saudi CITC launches the free local roaming service. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi CITC launches the free local roaming service. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi CITC Launches Free Local Roaming Service

The Saudi CITC launches the free local roaming service. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi CITC launches the free local roaming service. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) launched Sunday the local roaming service to ensure operating services in all regions in the Kingdom.

The service enables users to change their operator to another service network if there is no coverage for their primary service operator.

The launch was held at the authority's headquarters in Riyadh, in the presence of CITC Gov. Mohammed al-Tamimi and the chairmen of the boards of directors and CEOs of the three companies providing the service in the Kingdom.

The ceremony included the signing of an agreement between the Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily), and Mobile Telecommunications Company Saudi Arabia (Zain).

The authority said local roaming covers all services, such as voice and Internet services and short text messages (SMS), and will be implemented in all regions, including in 21,000 villages, covered by the telecommunications services.

The implementation of the local roaming service will start in the al-Asir region and will be completed in all other regions by the end of 2021.

Al-Tamimi said local roaming is part of the authority's cooperation with all concerned parties to provide the best telecommunications services.

"The local roaming service aims to enable service providers to benefit from the telecommunications networks of others and also to help them meet the requirements of the beneficiaries, as it supports the empowerment of digital transformation in the Kingdom," he added.



Gold Pulls Back from Near 3-month High as Dollar Regains Strength

FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Gold Pulls Back from Near 3-month High as Dollar Regains Strength

FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Gold prices eased on Thursday from a near three-month peak hit in the previous session, as the dollar regained strength, while investors awaited further direction from US President Donald Trump's administration regarding trade policies.
Spot gold eased 0.1% to $2,751.99 per ounce by 0552 GMT. Prices rose to $2,763.43 on Wednesday, their highest since Oct. 31 when they hit a record high of $2,790.15.
US gold futures shed 0.4% to $2,760.20.
"It's just a technical pullback because the dollar has been taking back on $108 level, triggering some profit-booking, but the undertone for gold is expected to be positive," said Ajay Kedia, director at Kedia Commodities in Mumbai.
Trump has mooted levies of around 25% on Mexico and Canada and 10% tariff on China from Feb. 1. He also promised duties on European imports, without elaborating further.
"How Trump's policies impact gold is whether the combination of tax cuts, deregulation, tariffs, and deportation will amount to a strong inflationary push," said Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive.
"If so, Fed rate cuts will be limited and gold is likely to struggle."
According to Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao, gold might have to face resistance at $2,759, which could trigger a correction.
The Federal Reserve is meeting next week against a backdrop of continued economic growth and declining inflation, but faces uncertainties from Trump's proposed policies that analysts see as inflationary.
The US central bank is expected to hold its benchmark interest rate steady at its next policy meeting on Jan. 28-29. Higher interest rates dampen the appeal of non-yielding gold.
European Central Bank policymakers lined up behind further rate cuts, while the Bank of Japan is widely expected to raise rates on Friday.
Spot silver dropped 0.5% to $30.63 per ounce, while platinum shed 0.2% to $944 and palladium dipped 0.7% to $970.55.