Kuwait loses unique cheap Internet – 400 percent increase in rent

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KUWAIT CITY, Jan 23: The teeming consumers and Internet Service Providers welcomed the new year with three ministerial decisions issued by the Ministry of Services to increase rent fees for the space and masts used by the Internet companies in various government exchanges countrywide, including the Liberation Tower, at 400 percent rate, in addition to the electricity bill, reports Al- Qabas daily.

A number of users have warned against the decisions, which they say would lead them to additional expenses and accounts, especially as Internet services have become an essential element in the homes of citizens and businesses, saying the Ministry of Services will benefit from the service charge increase, especially as income of the state treasury is expected to exceed 2.5 million dinars per year.

However, the impact on limited service providers will diminish their budgets and their profits. The decisions, which have been in force since the beginning of this month, include an increase in the price of rental meter in the Liberation Tower by 250 dinars for the first square meter, plus 20 dinars for each additional meter.

The rental value of the areas used for the technical head at the Liberation Tower will be 250 dinars for the first square meter, plus 30 dinars per additional square meter, provided that the minimum area is 4 square meters.

Also, prices for spaces inside the building of the Ministry of Services and its affiliated buildings will be as follows: It is 200 dinars for the first square meter plus 20 dinars for each additional square meter for the space used for devices.

It will be 200 dinars for the first square meter plus 15 dinars for each additional square meter in the government malls, in addition to 100 dinars for the first square meter plus 30 dinars per additional square meter of space used for the towers of companies in the Ministry buildings.

It is noteworthy the decisions were issued on the eve of the last ministerial reshuffl e before Minister Khalid Al-Roudhan moved to the Ministry of Services, and now finds himself faced with two options passed-over. Numerous consumers and users have expressed displeasure saying the decision of the Ministry of Services lacks professionalism as it was done without study or resorting to the opinion of a specialist in terms of its impact on consumers, indicating this type of cost increase on the companies has implications on those having the service inevitability.

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