Tunisia's communications ministry said Internet subscription rates were cut in half Monday and that privatization of the telecommunications sector would likely begin this year.
Monthly charges for subscribing to the Internet for a family dropped from 21 dinars ($15) to 10 dinars ($seven) effective Monday, the ministry said.
Professional subscribers saw their fees reduced from about $33 to $14 a month, with special rates for journalists, students and handicapped people.
Beyond the base subscription rate, the cost of surfing on the net was also reduced because of a cut in the value-added tax on Internet services from 18 to 10 percent.
Internet and other telecommunication costs in most African countries remain prohibitive. — (AFP, Tunis)
© Agence France Presse 2000
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
