United Nations Classifies Kingdom Among the Most Mature Countries in Regulating the Telecommunications and Information Technology Sector

The United Nations specialized agency for telecommunications and information technology - the International Telecommunication Union - classified the Kingdom among the most mature countries in regulating the telecommunications and information technology sector globally, with the top category including a number of advanced countries such as the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Countries classified in the most mature category are distinguished by following international best practices to create an environment conducive to developing and advancing the sector through collaborative work with sector stakeholders in order to achieve economic and social objectives.

On this occasion, His Excellency the Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission - the regulator of the telecommunications and information technology sector in the Kingdom - Dr. Abdulaziz bin Salem Al-Ruwais, said that it is a source of pride that the Kingdom is classified among the countries applying international best practices to create an environment conducive to developing the telecommunications and information technology sector and contributing to its advancement, and enabling the growth and development of other sectors, adding that this classification comes as a result of the Commission's diligent efforts to place the sector at the forefront of countries adopting the latest technologies that meet citizens' aspirations, having recently implemented many unprecedented initiatives in the region, including launching initial 5G trials, holding a public auction for the frequency spectrum, as well as its work in enabling the Internet of Things in the Kingdom.

The Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission affirmed that this classification reflects the Kingdom's leading global standing, which would not have been achieved without the grace of God Almighty and then the unlimited support of the wise leadership - may God protect it - noting that the Commission, with the continuous support and follow-up of His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Commission's Board of Directors, Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Alswaha, will continue its efforts aimed at achieving developmental leaps in the sector that would fulfill aspirations, enable digital transformation, and raise the efficiency of the national economy in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program 2020.

It should be noted that the International Telecommunication Union conducted a study of 190 countries, resulting in their classification into 4 categories; the top category is countries that regulate the sector collaboratively with the aim of achieving economic and social objectives, and included around 30% of the total countries in the world, followed by the second category, comprising countries working to enable investment, innovation and access, then the third category, comprising countries with partially licensed markets, and finally the fourth category, comprising countries with monopolized markets. The study covered 50 criteria spanning many aspects of regulators' work, including aspects related to quality of service and experience, licensing, the frequency spectrum, competition, infrastructure and infrastructure sharing, in addition to matters related to users and their protection, and how to deal with technological developments.