The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) announced the readiness of the operational plans for the ICT sector during the Hajj 2023 based on the unlimited support of H.R.H. the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Alsaud and H.R.H. Prince Mohammed bin Salman Alsaud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, with the follow-up of H.E Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the CST’s Board of Directors , to provide all amenities for pilgrims. 

During his inspection of communications service providers' sites in Makkah and the Holy Sites, H.E. the CST Governor, Dr. Mohammad Altamimi observed the ICT sector's preparations for 2023, as the number of pilgrims will return to pre-pandemic levels, where the infrastructure preparations have been doubled compared to 2019. 

The preparations of telecom providers include the allocation of more than 6000 towers  Makkah, Madinah, and the Holy Sites, with an increase of 74% compared to the year 2019. The number of 5G towers reached over 2900 tower with an increase by 12,38%. The Hajj preparations also include the provision of more than 10,500 WiFi Access Points, with an increase of 118% in Makkah, Madinah, and the Holy Sites.

Altamimi stressed that CST as Saudi Arabia’s ICT regulator is harnessing its capabilities to deliver ICT services to pilgrims during the Hajj and Umrah seasons in the highest quality possible, in accordance with the wise leadership directives to make the comfort of the pilgrims a top priority. ​