Communications and Information Technology Commission Announces Publication of a Document for Requesting a Third License to Provide Mobile Virtual Network Operator Services

Further to what was previously announced by the Communications and Information Technology Commission regarding the commencement of the process of issuing licenses to provide Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) services, which resulted in the Commission's Board of Directors approving the granting of a license to provide MVNO services to each of:

1- Virgin Mobile Saudi Arabia Consortium, with the Saudi Telecom Company as the host service provider.

2- Jawraa Consortium, with Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily) as the host service provider.

The Commission today published the document for requesting a license to provide mobile virtual network operator services with the host network infrastructure operator, Mobile Telecommunications Company "Zain," on the Commission's website (www.cst.gov.sa).

The Commission's objective in licensing the provision of mobile virtual communications services is to achieve the goals set out in the Telecommunications Act, which call for creating an appropriate climate for fair and effective competition and encouraging it in all fields of communications by providing advanced and adequate mobile communications services at reasonable prices, and stimulating competition by making more options available to users of communications and information technology services in the Kingdom, leading to greater innovation and diversity in packages and improved subscriber care services, in addition to creating new job opportunities and opening new investment fields in this vital sector.

The Commission invited interested parties to submit their applications to compete for the license in accordance with the requirements set out in the document published on its website, noting that the deadline for submitting applications to obtain a license to provide mobile virtual network operator services is Monday 4/08/1435H (2/06/2014). The document published on the Commission's website includes the conditions and criteria for the application process, the conditions required of applicants, the licensing process timetable, guidelines related to applicants and the contents of the application, application submission procedures, in addition to the general framework of the mobile virtual network operator agreement. Interested parties can obtain the document from the Commission's website or from the Commission's headquarters in Al-Nakheel district in Riyadh.