Job Discussion Forums

holbrook · Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 60

I'm taking a job in Dhahran and am curious about the possibility for downloading from the internet. I currently live in Dubai where I find the internet to be fine. Some websites are blocked but it is possible to use Bit Torrent, E-mule and other software to download music, movies and books that you cant get here.

Is it possible to do this is Saudi too? Are downloading sites blocked?

Also how about web-cams? My family would be back home for some time. I would like to connect with they via webcam. Does anyone know if this sort of thing is possible/legal? (I'm not asking how to do it. I know how, only I want to know if they block the hosting sites, etc.).

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with me.

Cheers

Van Norden · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 409

I use Onspeed. Nothing ever gets blocked.

Ask 007 about webcams. That's his area.

007 · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: Downloading in Dharran?

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

If you don't mind paying a few hundred dollars up front you can get Orbit Satellite internet which bypasses the Saudi proxy.

The censorship software used in Saudi is imported from the Emirates, so if you were going the official way there, then the same here.

You can use skype and messenger services and webcam; do bear in mind that sites such as flickr are banned.

I am pleased to know you got bittorrent to download anything. I gave up after numerous attempts.

Cleopatra · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:54 am Post subject:

This subject has been raised at least once before on this board - I suggest you do a search. Saudi censors focus on any sites which are remotely pornographic (some rather 'innocent' entertainment sites are banned for this reason) as well as sites - particularly Arabic language sites - dealing with 'sensitive' political and religious issues. In practice, I've rarely found such censorship to be a problem, but then I suppose, it all depends on what you're after...

Queen of Sheba · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 397

You can use bittorrent in KSA, and no downloading isnt a problem, any more than it is anywhere else in the ME. All you need is a good DSL or satellite connection, even blocked websites can be unblocked with software, if that is ever a problem, which isnt for most people who download using torrents or Kazaa, itunes, pandora etc.

holbrook · Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 60

Thanks for the input. I'm ready to ship over now. I'll be apart from the kids so access to web-cam technologies are critical. I'm surprised Skype is not banned in the Kingdom. It is here in the UAE. Fortunately many areas (Internet city, The Green Community, Media City) and most college campuses are outside the Etisalat firewall.

As long as I can download away I don't think I'll have much problem adjusting to Dharran from Dubai.

Thanks again.

holbrook · Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 60

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

I suspect the fault was with the torrent server unless the college has blacklisted torrent. I was trying to download some Mozart but never succeeded.