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Zain KSA Initiates 3 New Broadband Projects for Remote Areas

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah al-Sawah with CITC Governor Abdulaziz bin Salem al-Ruwais and Chairman of Zain Saudi Arabia Prince Nayef bin Sultan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah al-Sawah with CITC Governor Abdulaziz bin Salem al-Ruwais and Chairman of Zain Saudi Arabia Prince Nayef bin Sultan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Zain KSA Initiates 3 New Broadband Projects for Remote Areas

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah al-Sawah with CITC Governor Abdulaziz bin Salem al-Ruwais and Chairman of Zain Saudi Arabia Prince Nayef bin Sultan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah al-Sawah with CITC Governor Abdulaziz bin Salem al-Ruwais and Chairman of Zain Saudi Arabia Prince Nayef bin Sultan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) and Zain KSA signed an agreement to implement three high-speed wireless broadband projects for remote areas of the Kingdom as part of the Universal Service Fund.

The three projects are expected to provide service to more than 800,000 beneficiaries in 3,900 villages across 28 districts of Riyadh, Eastern Province, Asir Region and Makkah.

Zain KSA confirmed on Sunday that it will exert all efforts to contribute into achieving the objectives of the National Transition Program (NTP) 2020 and Vision 2030.

The agreement was signed by CITC Governor Abdulaziz bin Salem al-Ruwais and Chairman of Zain Saudi Arabia Prince Nayef bin Sultan at the presence of the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah al-Sawah.

Prince Nayef lauded the efforts the communications ministry aiming at achieving NPT 2020 and Vision 2030 goals, confirming Zain's commitment to contribute in reaching those goals.

CEO of Zain KSA Sultan bin Abdulazizi al-Deghaither stated that the three high-speed broadband projects for remote areas include providing services to more than 800,000 users in 3,900 villages across 28 districts of each of Riyadh, Eastern Province, Asir Region and Makkah.

Deghaither reiterated that Zain KSA had invested heavily in developing its network, which provides high-end technologies during implementation.

These projects include the provision of high-speed broadband services to centers, villages and remote areas in various regions of the kingdom by enhancing investment in infrastructure and increasing wireless broadband networks coverage. Projects will also contribute to facilitating use of e-government services in achieving digital transformation.

Zain Saudi Arabia stocks rose 5.8 percent on Sunday after the company signed the agreement with CITC.

These developments came as CITC launched its index on monitoring the latest developments in information technology and communications sector in the Kingdom by the end of the second quarter of 2017.

According to CITC, the number of subscribers to telecommunications services which reached about 43.6 million subscriptions, of which 3.75 million are for postpaid lines, while subscriptions to mobile broadband services on mobile networks reached about 25.2 million.

The number of subscriptions to fixed-line broadband services reached 3.2 million, including DSL, fixed wireless connections, fiber optics and other wired lines.

As for the number of internet users in Saudi Arabia, CITC said that the number of Internet users in the country reached 24 million users.

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Investors Weigh Market Risks as Israeli-Iranian Tensions Rise

Traders monitoring the movement of stocks on Wall Street (Reuters)
Traders monitoring the movement of stocks on Wall Street (Reuters)
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Investors Weigh Market Risks as Israeli-Iranian Tensions Rise

Traders monitoring the movement of stocks on Wall Street (Reuters)
Traders monitoring the movement of stocks on Wall Street (Reuters)

As the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates, investors are analyzing several potential market scenarios, especially if the United States deepens its involvement. A key concern is a sharp increase in energy prices, which could amplify economic consequences across global markets.

Rising oil prices could fuel inflation, weaken consumer confidence, and diminish the likelihood of interest rate cuts in the near term. This may prompt initial stock market sell-offs and a flight to the US dollar as a safe-haven asset.

While US crude oil prices have surged by around 10% over the past week, the S&P 500 index has remained relatively stable, following a brief decline after the initial Israeli strikes.

Analysts suggest that if Iranian oil supplies are disrupted, market reactions could intensify significantly. A serious supply disruption would likely ripple through global petroleum markets and push oil prices higher, leading to broader economic consequences.

Oxford Economics has outlined three possible scenarios: a de-escalation of conflict, a full suspension of Iranian oil production, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Each scenario carries escalating risks to global oil prices. In the most severe case, prices could soar to $130 per barrel, pushing US inflation to nearly 6% by year-end. In such a scenario, consumer spending would likely contract due to declining real income, and any possibility of interest rate cuts this year would likely vanish under rising inflationary pressure.

So far, the most direct impact has been felt in oil markets, where Brent crude futures have jumped as much as 18% since June 10, reaching nearly $79 a barrel, the highest level in five months. Volatility expectations in the oil market now exceed those of major asset classes like equities and bonds.

Although equities have largely brushed off the geopolitical turmoil, analysts believe this could change if energy prices continue to climb. Rising oil prices could weigh on corporate earnings and consumer demand, indirectly pressuring stock markets.

While US stocks have held steady for now, further American involvement in the conflict could spark market anxiety. Historical patterns suggest any sell-off might be short-lived. For instance, during the 2003 Iraq invasion, stocks initially dropped but recovered in subsequent months.

As for the US dollar, its performance amid escalating tensions could vary. It may strengthen initially due to safe-haven demand, although past conflicts have sometimes led to long-term weakness, especially during prolonged military engagements.