The Kingdom Achieves Second Place Among G20 Countries and Fourth Globally in Digital Regulatory Readiness According to the ITU Report
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced that the Kingdom achieved second place among G20 countries and fourth place globally in digital regulatory readiness, following its success in building a sustainable regulatory framework and transitioning toward collaborative digital regulation to enable the digital economy.
His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, explained on this occasion that the Kingdom, represented by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, succeeded in achieving this accomplishment as a result of the unlimited support the communications and technology sector receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the empowerment by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the diligent follow-up of His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Commission's Board of Directors, Engineer Abdullah Al-Swaha, as well as the pillars and enablers established by Saudi Vision 2030 in the communications and technology sector, which led to setting an ambitious strategy to transform into a "digital regulator" in line with global trends in this field.
His Excellency Al-Tamimi explained that the Commission, through its regulatory role, has launched many developmental initiatives for regulating the communications and technology sector to bring it to the highest levels of regulatory maturity globally, having established the National Regulations Committee and the Digital Regulations Academy as a strategic step to provide a regulatory environment that is attractive and stimulating for various sectors, enhance investment in the digital economy, accelerate digital transformation, achieve the highest level of coordination among regulatory bodies, alongside alignment in regulating digital topics shared between local and international entities, in a way that serves the interest of strengthening the digital regulatory environment across various vital sectors.
His Excellency noted that the Communications, Space and Technology Commission has enhanced the Kingdom's global competitiveness through its focus on collaborative regulation and stakeholder engagement, and its reliance on regulatory innovation and international leadership, as well as regulatory tools for the communications and technology market, and has also achieved innovative excellence in spectrum management.
The report issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) today noted the existence of five challenges facing regulatory bodies globally, most notably unifying regulations at the national level, sustaining sustainable economic growth, in addition to the regulator's regulatory and oversight capacity. The report also included a number of priority regulatory issues to be addressed by regulatory bodies, the most important of which are space-related activities, internet platforms, artificial intelligence, digital financial services, providing a regulatory sandbox environment for innovation, digital sustainability, and early warning systems.
It is worth noting that the regulatory journey of the communications sector in the Kingdom spans about 95 years, beginning with the establishment of the Directorate of Post, Telegraph and Telephone in 1924. The Kingdom has also, since the establishment of the "Communications Commission" in 2001, succeeded in carrying out radical reforms that contributed to raising its international ranking to reach "Level 5" in 2021, as one of the most mature sector regulators worldwide. These regulatory successes are reflected in the growth of the communications and technology market in the Kingdom, making it the largest and fastest-growing in the region, with its size reaching 154 billion riyals, in addition to doubling the number of companies licensed to provide communications and technology services in the Kingdom, and raising the level of infrastructure through capital investments exceeding 96 billion riyals over the past six years, which has contributed to internet usage penetration growth reaching 100%, and raising the telecommunications services subscription rate to 172%.
(Download the report) Global Digital Regulatory Outlook 2023
His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, explained on this occasion that the Kingdom, represented by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, succeeded in achieving this accomplishment as a result of the unlimited support the communications and technology sector receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the empowerment by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the diligent follow-up of His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Commission's Board of Directors, Engineer Abdullah Al-Swaha, as well as the pillars and enablers established by Saudi Vision 2030 in the communications and technology sector, which led to setting an ambitious strategy to transform into a "digital regulator" in line with global trends in this field.
His Excellency Al-Tamimi explained that the Commission, through its regulatory role, has launched many developmental initiatives for regulating the communications and technology sector to bring it to the highest levels of regulatory maturity globally, having established the National Regulations Committee and the Digital Regulations Academy as a strategic step to provide a regulatory environment that is attractive and stimulating for various sectors, enhance investment in the digital economy, accelerate digital transformation, achieve the highest level of coordination among regulatory bodies, alongside alignment in regulating digital topics shared between local and international entities, in a way that serves the interest of strengthening the digital regulatory environment across various vital sectors.
His Excellency noted that the Communications, Space and Technology Commission has enhanced the Kingdom's global competitiveness through its focus on collaborative regulation and stakeholder engagement, and its reliance on regulatory innovation and international leadership, as well as regulatory tools for the communications and technology market, and has also achieved innovative excellence in spectrum management.
The report issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) today noted the existence of five challenges facing regulatory bodies globally, most notably unifying regulations at the national level, sustaining sustainable economic growth, in addition to the regulator's regulatory and oversight capacity. The report also included a number of priority regulatory issues to be addressed by regulatory bodies, the most important of which are space-related activities, internet platforms, artificial intelligence, digital financial services, providing a regulatory sandbox environment for innovation, digital sustainability, and early warning systems.
It is worth noting that the regulatory journey of the communications sector in the Kingdom spans about 95 years, beginning with the establishment of the Directorate of Post, Telegraph and Telephone in 1924. The Kingdom has also, since the establishment of the "Communications Commission" in 2001, succeeded in carrying out radical reforms that contributed to raising its international ranking to reach "Level 5" in 2021, as one of the most mature sector regulators worldwide. These regulatory successes are reflected in the growth of the communications and technology market in the Kingdom, making it the largest and fastest-growing in the region, with its size reaching 154 billion riyals, in addition to doubling the number of companies licensed to provide communications and technology services in the Kingdom, and raising the level of infrastructure through capital investments exceeding 96 billion riyals over the past six years, which has contributed to internet usage penetration growth reaching 100%, and raising the telecommunications services subscription rate to 172%.
(Download the report) Global Digital Regulatory Outlook 2023
Date
18/3/2023
Hijri Date
26/8/1444
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