11,000 Population Clusters in the Kingdom Now Reached by Communications and Information Technology Services

The Communications and Information Technology Commission, represented by the Universal Service Fund, has achieved the delivery of telecommunications and internet services to more than (11,000) population clusters inhabited by more than three million people in various regions of the Kingdom. This achievement comes in line with the direction and keenness of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques — may God protect him — which aims to deliver all communications and internet services to all villages and hamlets, especially the remote ones, throughout the Kingdom.

Telecommunications and internet services have been delivered to (1,546) centers and hamlets in the Riyadh region inhabited by (506,000 people); (2,205) hamlets and centers in the Makkah region inhabited by (555,000 people); (1,286) hamlets and centers in the Madinah region inhabited by (218,000 people); (535) hamlets and centers in the Qassim region inhabited by (297,000 people); (133) hamlets and centers in the Eastern Region inhabited by (45,000 people); (2,120) hamlets and centers in the Asir region inhabited by (433,000 people); (328) hamlets and centers in the Tabuk region inhabited by (67,000 people); service to (676) hamlets and centers in the Hail region inhabited by (238,000 people); (119) hamlets and centers in the Northern Borders region inhabited by (32,000 people); (984) hamlets and centers in the Jazan region inhabited by (352,000 people); (439) hamlets and centers in the Najran region inhabited by (120,000 people); (934) hamlets and centers in the Al-Baha region inhabited by (210,000 people); and (136) hamlets and centers in the Al-Jouf region inhabited by (63,000 people).

It is worth noting here that the Communications and Information Technology Commission is implementing state-funded universal service projects to provide all villages and hamlets with a population of less than 5,000 people with voice communications and internet services. The Commission explained that it has floated all of its projects in this regard, numbering (14) projects for the rollout of voice communications and internet services, which have covered thousands of remote villages and hamlets through the Universal Service Fund, and which are expected to be completed by the end of 2017, God willing.

The Commission affirmed that these services were delivered to these centers, hamlets, and villages by the grace of God first, and then with the support and directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques — may God protect him — and his wise government, which always affirms that all services should reach all regions of the Kingdom, including communications and information technology services, and that the Commission is continuously working to ensure that all communications and information technology services reach all regions of the Kingdom.