KUWAIT CITY, Oct 1: A senior official in the Ministry of Communications is allegedly hindering efforts to expand the capacity of international network “which would help reduce the cost of phone calls and Internet services,” informed sources told Al-Seyassah daily.

The sources pointed out to the ministry’s delays in signing a contract for this purpose despite getting an approval from the Central Tenders Committee (CTC) on March 16, 2011. “The ministry didn’t take any action even six months after getting the approval for the project which would reduce the cost of Internet services and raise the efficiency of international communications,” they added.

Sources said the senior official is thwarting all attempts by giving flimsy excuses like the lack of budget or review papers and tender documents and so on, all of which serve the interests of Internet companies.
Sources added that the CTC wrote to the Ministry of Communications a few weeks ago and demanded it to urgently complete contract procedures on the basis of its decision in meeting No. 21 held in March 2011.
Sources say the ministry’s delay in signing the contract is against the law and hinders the implementation of the project itself. They added that a budget worth KD 600,000 was allocated to the ministry in fiscal year 2011-2012 for the project.