Page 161 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia

Under the patronage of the Communication and Information Co-Innovation Award. (October 24, 2022) www.citc.gov.sa
Technology Minister Abdullah Alswaha, the Communications
and Information Technology Commission (CITC) launched the The Communications and Information Technology Commission
“Digital Technology Forum" 2022. Under the theme "Enabling Local (CITC) has published the Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)
Technology Products", organized by CITC in partnership with the regulations, which consist of three regulatory documents.
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the The respective documents are “Regulations for Provisioning
Saudi Export Development Authority and the Local Content and of Operation Services of Non-terrestrial Networks (NTN)”,
Government Procurement Authority. The Forum kicked off with a “Regulations for Provisioning of Telecommunication Services over
H.E. the Vice Minister of MCIT Eng. Haitham Alohali, H.E. the Vice Non-terrestrial Networks (NTN)”, and “Regulation for Registration
Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Eng. Osama Alzamil, of Telecommunication Space Stations”. These regulations aim
H.E. the Governor of CITC Dr. Mohammed Altamimi, and H.E. the to enable these networks, create an encouraging regulatory
Digital Government Authority Governor Eng. Ahmed Alsuwaiyan. environment that promotes investment, facilitate the adoption
At the opening remarks, the CITC’s Deputy Governor for IT and of the latest NTN wireless technologies and contribute to the
Emerging Technologies Mr. Raed Alfayez showcased the IT thriving digital economy in the Kingdom. CITC has indicated that
sector’s growth indicators, which have increased from 43 Billion the regulations aim to provide communication services using
SAR in 2017 to 73 Billion SAR in 2021, with an annual growth rate cutting-edge wireless technologies and enable the wide spread
of 14%, and expected to reach 103 Billion SAR in 2025. Alfayez of NTN technologies by following the principle of "technology-
emphasized the unlimited support from H.R.H the Crown Prince neutral". CITC has illustrated that creating a well-established
and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Alsaud to the IT sector, regulatory environment for NTN will attract investments in the
which became the largest market in the region and one of the Kingdom that will play a vital role to unleash the full potential of
most promising sectors in achieving the Kingdom’s vision 2030 these technologies. CITC pointed out that the NTN regulations
and a key component in supporting the digital infrastructure; and will encourage investments in the ICT sector, develop the digital
noted that we are witnessing qualitative leaps in the Kingdom's economy, and enable various technologies to the end user in
IT market. He also indicated that in the last year’s forum, the the Kingdom. These technologies include Air- to- ground (A2G)
Commission launched its strategy to empower IT sector toward the communication, Mega Constellations, Satellite Internet of Things
future, which served as the starting point for drawing and building (SAT-IoT), 5G CGC, High Altitude Platform Technologies (HAPS),
sector landscapes, identifying initiatives and projects that began and Low Altitude Platform Technologies (LAPS). (September 21, 2022)
to motivate technical investment by emphasizing the attractive www.citc.gov.sa
investment environment, the Kingdom's potential for technical
investment, and success stories. Alfayez highlighted the sector's The Communications and Information Technology Commission
leaps and effective initiatives in the Kingdom's IT market, where 9 has published the Spectrum Trading Regulations, as part of the
companies are listed on the stock market, and has grown 350% efforts to implement its National Spectrum Strategy (2020-2025),
in just one year. According to the Kingdom's IT market business's the regulations aims to embrace a market-oriented approach
specialized classification, the Commission has registered over to spectrum management. The Spectrum Trading Regulations
500 companies in the ManassaTech. In the field of emerging allow access to spectrum through secondary markets to adopt
technologies, specifically IoT, Alfayez confirmed that the IoT new mechanisms for utilizing spectrum efficiently through
subscription rate has reached more than 10 Million subscriptions, frequency reuse. Furthermore, the types of spectrum trading that
because of the development of the IoT that covers more than the regulations introduce are full and partial spectrum transfers.
95% of urban areas and handles more than 500 Billion connected Moreover, CITC's objectives of introducing Spectrum Trading in
devices, the approval of “Connected Vehicles” Services for more the Kingdom are to promote innovations in wireless technologies,
than 20 commercial agencies, and in Cloud Computing, the service achieve efficient use of spectrum, and enhance the quality of
providers increased to 31 with 3 global companies. To foster an services provided to end-users. In addition, the document aligns
investment-friendly regulatory environment, the Commission with CITC's aspirations to establish transparency in spectrum
issued several regulatory documents and guides, including management procedures and improve the flexibility of access
Software Capitalization, IT market classification, and computing to spectrum. The Spectrum Trading Regulations document
and IoT regulations. It also launched 12 enabling initiatives and 33 underwent public consultations before it was approved to consider
awareness-raising workshops to encourage supply and demand, and measure stakeholders feedback and needs of spectrum.
as well as the Emerging Technologies Sandbox, which will support (September 19, 2022) www.citc.gov.sa
modern digital business models. The forum also witnessed several
launches of products and services, as well as an accompanying The Communications and Information Technology Commission
exhibition that features more than 35 local technical products and announces that the Frequency Licensing Fees Regulations entered
Blockchain products of more than 30 local companies, as well as into force. The regulations have been approved by the Council of
the announcement of 4 winning products with the Commission's Ministers in Decision No. (632) on 15/11/1443H (14/06/2022) and

161 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022