During his opening of the Communications and Information Technology Indicators Forum, His Excellency the Governor of the "Communications Commission": The Kingdom's communications and information technology market ranks sixth among G20 countries in terms of market value

Under the patronage and attendance of His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission, today opened in Riyadh

the Communications and Information Technology Indicators Forum 2022

in its eighth edition, with the participation and attendance of distinguished excellencies, a number of sector leaders and heads of technology companies in the Kingdom, and many experts and specialists in the communications and information technology sector.

Dr. Al-Tamimi explained during his opening speech to the forum that the progress witnessed by the communications and information technology sector in the Kingdom embodies the wise leadership's interest and support for this vital sector, and reflects the close follow-up by His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Chairman of the Commission's Board, Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Alswaha, as the Kingdom's communications market is one of the fastest growing markets among G20 countries, driven by the catalysts of Saudi Vision 2030 and its role in accelerating growth and innovation, which led its markets to rank sixth among G20 countries in terms of market value, and it also achieved the highest level of progress and achievement among them, through the amount of spectrum allocated for mobile communications services globally, ranking second among G20 countries.

Al-Tamimi noted that the forum focuses on three main objectives: presenting the latest data and information about the sector through modern performance indicators and metrics, in addition to shedding light on the latest global trends in the field of communications and information technology, which affect not only the Kingdom but the region and the whole world, and the extent of their impact on our lifestyle, work, and communication methods, and finally encouraging and enriching constructive dialogue about some of the challenges and opportunities facing today's economies, and exploring the solutions that the communications and information technology sector must offer in a world advancing rapidly toward digital transformation.

His Excellency noted the robustness of the communications sector infrastructure in the Kingdom, as the average mobile internet speed reached 179.9 Mbps by the end of 2021, a rise rate of up to 1781%, while the global average is 71.3 Mbps, and fiber optic network coverage reached more than 3.5 million homes, while spectrum allocated for mobile communications services (IMT) exceeded 1110 MHz, while IoT technology coverage for urban areas reached 95%, and these efforts, reinforced by regulatory and policy frameworks stimulating innovation, investment, and enabling the digital economy, were reflected in the Kingdom winning the Government Leadership Award from the International Mobile Telecommunications Union.

Al-Tamimi added that the communications and information technology sector is working to adopt innovative experiences, as we conducted the first successful trial globally to provide 5G network coverage via high-altitude platform stations (5G HAPS), and launched the newest generation of WiFi technologies, WiFi-6e, making the Kingdom first globally in total spectrum available for WiFi technology, and conducted the first satellite connection trial "LEO Satellite" at the Middle East and North Africa regional level.

It is noted that this year's edition of the annual Communications and Information Technology Indicators Forum focused on digital regulation, being one of the pivotal elements of the industry of the future in the Kingdom and the world at large, addressing best leading practices and future trends for the communications and information technology sector, through its dialogue sessions which saw high-level attendance from distinguished excellencies and leaders of major communications and information technology companies in the Kingdom, in addition to international experts and specialists in the communications and information technology sector.