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2 million gigabytes: how Saudi hajj pilgrims stay in touch

Saudi authorities announce initiative to provide a total of two million gigabytes for the two million pilgrims performing Hajj this week

by Staff Writer
Muslim worshippers circumambulate around the Kaaba Islams holiest shrine at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. (AHMAD ALRUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
Muslim worshippers circumambulate around the Kaaba Islams holiest shrine at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. (AHMAD ALRUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)

The Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Communications and Information Technology Commission have announced an initiative to provide a total of two million gigabytes for the two million pilgrims performing Hajj this year.

The initiative is in partnership with mobile operators Saudi Telecom, Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), Mobile Telecommunication Company Saudi Arabia (Zain), Virgin Mobile, and Etihad Jawraa (Lebara).

A statement said that the initiative was in accordance with the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “to do everything possible to make it easy for pilgrims to perform the rituals of Hajj”.

The gift is for those who have opted to use packages – Sawa Ziyara, AlZowar, Noor, Hajj & Umrah and Iman – provided by the kingdom’s mobile operators. Each user of these subscribers will have access to one gigabyte for 48 hours.

The initiative intends to allow pilgrims to communicate with their families and enable them to access the digital services available in the Smart Hajj initiative in order to enhance their experience and allow them to take advantage of enhanced communication services.

Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage, runs until Friday.

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