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The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) announced the launch of the local roaming service that aims at maintaining services in villages and remote areas covered by telecom services across the Kingdom's regions.

The service will enable users to change network operators from their primary provider, without coverage, to the nearest available local mobile network without any additional fees.

Held at the commission's headquarters in Riyadh, the signing of a commercial agreement ceremony saw his Excellency Governor of CITC, Dr. Mohammed Saud Al-Tamimi, and the chairmen of the boards of directors and CEOS of the three companies providing the service, Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily), and Mobile Telecommunications Company Saudi Arabia (Zain).

The commission said that the local roaming service would include voice services, internet services, short text messages, “SMS," in 21,000 villages and remote areas, starting in Asir and expanding to the Kingdom's regions by the end of 2021.

The CITC governor indicated that the local roaming service comes within the authority's framework of cooperation with all concerned parties to provide the best telecommunications services. He added that the service aims to enable service providers to benefit from the telecommunications networks of others, help meet the requirements of beneficiaries, support service providers to reach the most significant number of beneficiaries while ensuring an increase in the number of available options.

The service aims to raise competitiveness, improve service quality and user experience, support the digital transformation of villages and rural areas, achieve its objectives, and provide general services.

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