In KSA there are currently over 20 companies that provide Internet Services, but the number is expected to rise in the coming years. To learn more about Internet in KSA, read the guide "Internet in Saudi Arabia".

To make your task of finding the right Internet Service Provider (ISP) for you easier you should ask yourself the following questions:

1. What do I need Internet for?

The first question to ask yourself is what are you going to do with your Internet connection?

Dial up for light use

If you are planning to use the Internet just for email and occasional web surfing, a simple dial-up connection will be sufficient for you. Dial-up as a technology can reach only a theoretical maximum speed of 56 Kbps (around 42Kbps on average). To use a dial up connection you will need just a regular phone line and modem. The disadvantage of using dial up connection is its slow speed and the fact that if you want to make a phone call, you have to disconnect from the Internet.

DSL for heavier use

If you are going to surf the Internet on daily basis, download files from the Internet or play games online, you might consider getting a DSL connection. DSL is much faster than the dial up connection. DSL as a technology can reach a speed of 10Mbps(10240 Kbps), but in KSA it is currently offered with the maximum speed of 1024 Kbps (with up to 8192 Kbps speeds expected within the coming year). The exact speed depends on how far you are from the phone exchange and your contract with the ISP. The DSL connection is "active" continuously so you do not have to wait for your computer to connect to the Internet. DSL also uses a regular phone line, but unlike dial-up connections you can use the phone while surfing the net via DSL. DSL is not available everywhere and in rare cases you may have to install or upgrade wiring in your home or business to be able to use DSL. Your computer also has to have a network card installed (i.e. "Ethernet card") to connect to the DSL router or modem. If you want to connect more than one computer to the Internet at the same time using the same connection you also need a DSL modem and a switch. Another solution is to use a wireless access point within your home to provide wireless Internet access without cumbersome wired connections to your computer.

Leased line for business use

Leased line are a good option for businesses that require a high-speed connection to the Internet. When using a leased line you will have full, flexible and high-speed access to the Internet with your dedicated leased line.

Wireless Technologies

If you spend a lot of your time “on the road” you might consider getting an Internet connection that allows you to use wireless Internet, mobile phone or satellite phone to connect your computer to the Internet.

WiFi and WiMax

WiFi (wireless fidelity) technology is used to create a wireless connection to the Internet. The typical operation radius of a WiFi network is around 100 meters from the WiFi transmitter. To use a wireless Internet connection you will need a computer with a WiFi card and access to a WiFi hotspot. WiFi hotspots can be found in many places including some coffee shops, hotels etc. Some of them might be free to use, some may require a subscription to a wireless Internet service. If you want to set up WiFi Internet network within your home you will also need DSL connection and a WiFi router or access-point. WiMax is similar to WiFi but its operation range is much broader, reaching distances of up to 50 KM under optimal conditions.

Internet and mobile/satellite phones

You can also connect to the Internet via certain mobile phones or satellite phones. Some mobile phones let you browse web sites and read email directly with your phone using WAP. WAP (wireless application protocol) is a protocol that allows mobile phones and some PDAs to access parts of the Internet.

Some mobile phones allow you to use them as a modem to connect to your ISP. This can be via a regular mobile phone connection or the much faster GPRS technology. GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is a wireless communication service based on GSM communication. It delivers effective data rates up to 50 Kbps and continuous connection to the data services for mobile phone and computer users, as well as telematics applications. The higher data rates allow users to send multimedia messages, and interact with multimedia Web sites and similar applications using mobile handheld devices as well as notebook computers.

Ask for more information about WAP and GPRS from your local mobile operator.

2. What kind of a pricing plan is right for me?

Once you’ve decided what kind of Internet connection you need, you should consider what kind of pricing plan is right for you. This question is most important for people who want to use dial up connection and somewhat important for people using DSL.

Prepaid or post paid access?

Almost all ISPs in KSA offer prepaid cards for dial-up access. Some of them offer such cards for DSL access. These cards can be bought from certified resellers like bookstores and computer vendors. The advantage of using prepaid card is that you don't need to sign a contract or pay Internet rental charges.

For those who do not mind signing contracts or paying Internet rental charges post-paid access can be a better solution. The advantage of post-paid access is that you usually get more value for your money than with prepaid access.

Easynet, a simple and cheap dial-up connection, is a one form of postpaid access and it does not even require any kind of user names or passwords (see below).

Pay per usage or flat-rate?

When you have decided if you want to pay for your Internet connection before or after using it, you should ask yourself if you want to choose a usage-based rate or a flat rate.

If you choose a plan that is based on a hourly access, you pay only for the time you use the Internet. Hourly based rates are best suited for people who use the Internet infrequently and only for short periods at the time. Easynet is one form of pay-per-usage Internet connection.

With monthly or yearly flat-rate subscription plans you can access the Internet as often and for as long as you want for one fixed price. However, even with flat-rate subscription you need to pay an amount of money per hour to the telecommunication company (currently about 2.20 riyals per hour) for connecting you to your ISP. Monthly subscription plans are better suited for people who use the Internet regularly and for extended periods.

Easynet

If you choose to use a dial-up connection, do not wish to use postpaid services, and wish to enjoy hassle-free Internet connection, then Easynet might be the best choice for you. All you have to do is set up your modem to call the Easynet number of your chosen ISP. You do not have to perform any additional set-ups. Easynet numbers begin with 3660 and can be called anywhere from Saudi Arabia for only the cost of a local phone call. Your phone usage will be billed directly to your fixed telephone line.

3. What else do I get for my money?

The cheapest Internet connection is not always the best for you. When choosing your Internet service provider you should consider also following questions:

• Do you get an email account with your connection or do you need to pay extra for it? Do you need it?
  
• Do you get space for your own website with the connection? Do you need it?
  
• What kind of technical support does your ISP provide? Do you have to pay to get technical support? Is it available for 24 hours a day? How can you contact the technical support staff?
• How reliable is the ISP? Are the connections as fast as they are promised them to be? If you’re using dial-up, can you connect to the Internet every time you want to or do you have to wait until the lines become free? Are there often interruptions in their service? How quickly are they able to fix the technical problems?
• How safe is my ISP? Do they offer anti-virus software or firewall services? Do they use spam filtering for email?
• Does my ISP offer Internet roaming i.e. the possibility to use the Internet connection in other parts of the country or abroad?

4. Where do I get more information on different ISPs?

You will find more information on different services and pricing plans directly from the website or the customer service center of the ISP, but it is almost always worth a try to ask your friends, relatives, neighbors and colleagues about the provider they are using; why did they choose it and how do they like it. You can also get other people’s opinions on different ISPs by visiting Internet related discussion groups and weblogs.

The complete list of ISPs in KSA can be found by clicking here.

Summary:

Conclusion

If you follow the steps mentioned above, finding the right Internet Service Provider for you shouldn’t be too difficult. Take your time and trust your own judgment and you will be fine.  If you change your mind later, you can almost always change your ISP too.