The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) praised the remarkable and rapid development of the telecommunications and information technology sector in Saudi Arabia.
In a recent report, the ITU said that the Kingdom’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) was a pioneer in regulating the communications and IT sector, notably among the most mature category (5G).
The ITU report pointed out that Saudi Arabia was continuing to prioritize the rapid growth of its ICT sector and pursue sustainable economic diversification as part of its Vision 2030.
The report also underlined the Kingdom’s new strategy, which brought together government agencies and the private sector to look into new and emerging technologies. It stressed that the CITC was stepping up to meet the 5th-generation regulation challenge with an ambitious new digital transformation strategy including a guiding vision of a “connected nation for a thriving digital economy.”
“Their vision also emphasizes safeguarding the public, providing reliable service, ensuring fair competition, and balancing the diverse needs of multiple stakeholders,” the report stated.
The CITC has achieved success against the challenges and overcoming them through a world-class mature and ambitious strategy, the report added.
The ITU report also revealed that the communications and IT sector in the Kingdom - as in the rest of the world - faced challenges at the level of the regulatory environment, but faced them with a series of qualitative initiatives, including encouraging investment and developing infrastructure while ensuring access to high-quality services.
It added that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the CITC has cooperated, quickly and effectively, with telecom operators to meet the surge in demand for online access and data with increased speeds and data capacity, free services, expanded spectrum use, and enhanced network configurations and connectivity.
“This rapid response played a critical role in enabling remote work, business continuity, delivery apps, e-government services, and remote learning across Saudi Arabia,” the ITU report emphasized.