The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) has announced that the Neo Space Group has won the competition for obtaining a permit to provide Earth Observation (EO) Platform Service. This aims to create the appropriate environment to enable the private sector to establish and develop the Earth Observation (EO) services and emerging businesses therein, and to stimulate its contribution to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product (GDP) through the development of value-added Space products. 

 

CST clarified that the permit allows the establishing and operating of an electronic platform for collecting and processing Earth Observation (EO) data, received from satellites such as images of monitoring the Earth’s natural terrain, environmental pollution, and weather. In addition, the platform will act as a market and digital enabler, and will establish links between Earth Observation (EO) data providers and value-added service providers who aim to develop and process data, and transform it into value-added Space programs and products. Moreover, it will enable beneficiaries from public and private sectors to obtain processed EO data, serving various applications in different sectors such as  agriculture, environment, logistics and urban planning and more.

It is worth noting that CST issued the "Request for Permit to Provide EO Platform Services" document in April, and invited all those wishing to obtain the permit to submit their applications before the deadline specified for that, which ended on July 7th, 2024. CST evaluated the applications and selected the Neo Space Group as the qualified applicant in accordance to the specified evaluation criteria in the document. This initiative is part of CST’s efforts to enable Space activities, encourage investments in the Space sector and enhance Saudi Arabia's global position.