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The Kingdom ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and ninth among 20G countries in the Digital Regulatory Maturity Index, issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in accordance with its standards to reach the highest levels of organizational maturity (level 5). The ITU examines the organizational maturity through 50 standards whereby it measure the development of regulatory environment and how far it keeps pace with contemporary developments.

What does the indicator measure?

Development of the regulatory environment

Keeping abreast of digital developments

Development and implementation of regulations and policies

Maturity of the organizational environment

The Factors that contributed to that achievement

Launching an ambitious vision underpinned by digital transformatio

Transformation of CST into a digital regulator

Launching the Human Capacity Building Initiative in the Field of Digital Organizations.

Launching pilot regulatory environment projects for digital applications and emerging technologies "sandbox"

Launching the digital economy policy.

Formulation of a roadmap for commercial and innovative use of the frequency spectrum.

The open access agreement for fixed telecommunications networks.

Establishment of the National Regulatory Committee.

The effects of this achievement for the Kingdom:

Attracting investments in various sectors.

Enabling the digital economy.

Enhancing the Kingdom’s position globally in ICT sector.

Underscoring the Kingdom's leading role in the ITU

The historical path of rating the maturity level of the ICT sector regulation

(Level 1 (1924-2001) Building and foundation
  • Establishment of the Directorate of Telegraph, Post and Telephone
  • Establishment of the Ministry of Telegraph, Post and Telephone
  • Separation of telegraph, post and telephone facilities and establishment of a joint stock company (Saudi Telecom Company)
  • Establishment of the Saudi Communications Commission
Level 2 (2002–2009) Development of regulatory frameworks and opening markets for competition
  • Integrating information technology to the functions of the Communications Commission to become the Communications and Information Technology Commission.
  • Liberalizing the telecommunications sector and granting two licenses to provide mobile telecommunications services.
  • Issuance of (3) new licenses for the fixed telecommunication services market.
  • Establishment of the Universal Service Fund for Remote Areas
  • The launch of the 3rd generation of communications networks.
  • Establishment of the e-Government Program (Yesser)
Level 3 (2010-2015) Studying the present and looking to the future.
  • Stimulating the spread of broadband services
  • Enhancing user protection.
  • The launch of the 4th generation of communications networks.
  • Issuance of two licenses to Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO)
Level 4 (2016-2020) Scaling up innovations and enhancing the value of investing in the digital economy.
  • The launch of the 5th generation of communications networks.
  • Approval of the National Frequency Plan.
  • Enabling the Internet of Things in the Kingdom
  • Launching the Open Access initiative for fixed communications networks
  • Issuance of the first license to provide broadband communication services via satellite
Level 5 (2020-2021) Qualitative leaps with a modern vision towards the organizational maturity
  • Establishment of the Digital Government Authority
  • Establishment of the National Regulatory Committee
  • Adoption of ICT sector strategy 20233
  • Launching pilot regulatory environment projects for digital applications and emerging technologies "sandbox".
  • Formulation of a roadmap for commercial and innovative use of the frequency spectrum 2021-2023.

Success Partners

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