Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Represented by the Communications and Information Technology Commission, Signs an Agreement to Implement the Broadband Initiative with Integrated Telecom Company

In the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, and His Highness Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Abdullah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Integrated Telecom Company, along with senior officials of the Ministry, the Commission, and the Company, His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Ruwais, Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission, and the President of Integrated Telecom Company, Eng. Ghassan Aitani, signed today, Sunday 11/8/1438H, corresponding to 8/5/2017, an agreement to implement the high-speed fiber-optic broadband initiative. This agreement comes within the initiatives of the National Transformation Program 2020, one of the programs of the "Kingdom's Vision 2030" concerned with the communications and information technology sector system, which aims to develop this vital sector, enhance digital infrastructure, and provide high-speed fiber-optic broadband services to all urban areas of the Kingdom for homes and vital government facilities. The number of targeted homes in high-density urban areas is estimated at 405,000 homes, from 44% currently to 80% in 2020. The number of targeted homes in urban areas is 1,730,000 homes, from 12% currently to 55% in 2020.

Eng. Al-Swaha noted the Ministry's and the Commission's desire to motivate all parties working in the communications and information technology sector to actively contribute to the National Transformation Program so that it achieves its goals according to the specified timelines, affirming the importance of the partnership between the public and private sectors, which would contribute to advancing the communications and information technology sector,

His Excellency indicated that the Ministry will proceed with implementing all initiatives related to the communications, information technology, and postal sector system, which have been approved in the National Transformation Program 2020.

The Commission's Governor also praised this agreement, noting that it will support the deployment of infrastructure in all regions of the Kingdom and will contribute to the rollout of services to homes and vital government facilities such as in the fields of health, education, and electronic services for citizens.