Business & Finance Club Magazine - Communication Sector - KUWAIT: The Audit Bureau has given the Ministry of Communications [MoC] the green light to sign a contract for the maintenance of landline telephone networks in the Jahra, Farwaniya, Mubarak Al-Kabeer and Ahmadi governorates.

The ministry's legal affairs department has coordinated with the Fatwa and Legislation Department concerning the project, while the communications department has already finalized its duties related to the project," explained Samah Abulbanat, the MoC's Deputy Assistant for the Communications and International Services Department.

The landline networks in the Capital and Hawally areas will not be covered by the KD 4 million three-year contract since the ministry already signed contracts with other firms to provide maintenance services there.

The new measures have been taken to tackle the high number of complaints over regular landline disconnection in these areas due to the lack of maintenance caused by the lack of any contractor being appointed there to provide these services.

[Communications minister] Dr. Mohammad Al-Busairi will take the final decision on sighing the contract after he receives confirmation from the Fatwa and Legislation Department and finalizing coordination with the finance department," Abulbanat explained.

The senior MoC official also revealed that the ministry has already completed the first phase of its project to install a fiber optic network, adding that arrangements are in place to launch the second phase shortly, which is set to provide more fiber optic coverage for different areas, particularly focusing on the older, previously neglected ones.