CITC Announces the Readiness of Telecom and IT Services with 16,000 Telecom Towers to Serve Pilgrims

The Communications and Information Technology Commission announced today the readiness of telecom and information technology services to serve the guests of the Most Merciful during the 1439H Hajj season, as the Commission supervised telecom service providers in providing about 16,000 base stations and more than 3,000 Wi-Fi access points in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and the Holy Sites.

"The Commission" pointed to the development in the telecom and information technology sector's infrastructure in the Two Holy Mosques and the Holy Sites this year through the establishment of 1,140 new base stations ("telecom towers") providing fourth-generation technologies, bringing the total number of base stations in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and the Holy Sites to about 16,000 base stations compared to 13,000 stations last year, as well as increasing telecom network capacity by 15% compared to last year, and increasing the frequency bands allocated for mobile communications by 80 MHz, which will contribute to improving the quality of mobile telecom services and increasing internet speeds, in addition to allocating more than 400 points of sale.

The Communications and Information Technology Commission works under the follow-up of His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Chairman of the Commission's Board of Directors, and His Excellency the Commission Governor, in supervising and following up on telecom and information technology services in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, the Holy Sites, Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and air, sea, and land ports of entry, as well as coordinating between the government entities concerned with serving pilgrims to the Sacred House of God in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Madinah Al-Munawwarah and the Holy Sites, and telecom and information technology service providers, to provide the best services to pilgrims wherever they are throughout their stay.

It is noted that the telecom and information technology infrastructure in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and the Holy Sites is among the largest and most advanced infrastructures in the world, and this infrastructure includes exchanges, cabinets, towers, and wireless stations of second, third, and fourth generation to serve millions of guests of the Most Merciful.