Saudi cellco STC claims to be the first carrier in the Middle East and Africa to offer prepaid top up services to roaming customers from other countries.
The operator estimates some 250,000 subscribers from its subsidiary, Axis Indonesia Telecom, will benefit from the top-up scheme while travelling in Saudi Arabia during a yearly pilgrimage to Mekka. The prepaid cards will cost the same as for domestic subscribers, and STC is mulling extending the scheme to its other subsidiaries in the region.
Subscribers from Viva in Bahrain and Kuwait are also eligible for the program, which also offers roaming subscribers domestic call rates while in Saudi Arabia.