RIYADH — The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) announced a new brand identity as part of its strategy to benefit users, service providers and investors in Saudi Arabia’s ICT and postal sectors. Under this new direction, Telco, IT, and emerging tech will all work together to create the essential digital ecosystem, which combined with postal services, will deliver an attractive communications infrastructure for the Kingdom. Driving innovation in regulation will help position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in the ICT sector. CITC is on track to be classed as a fifth-generation regulator by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which defines a harmonized and forward-looking approach to ICT regulatory frameworks. ITU’s fifth generation is reserved for the world’s most advanced and high-performing ICT regulators. Another of the Kingdom’s ambitions is to break into the top 20 countries for the telecommunications and information technology sector by 2030, improving the sector’s performance and contribution to GDP. Dr. Mohammed Al Tamimi, governor of CITC, stated, “The digitalization of the world’s economy has significantly accelerated in 2020. Our new strategy aims to place Saudi Arabia among the world’s best when it comes to implementing and regulating new digital technologies across all sectors. “We are one of the most tech-savvy and connected nations in the world and CITC, as the national regulator, must ensure that the digital infrastructure and regulatory framework reflects this. “Saudi Arabia has already received international recognition for our achievements in the ICT sector and, with this new direction, we will be able to accomplish even more.” CITC’s new strategy comes directly in line with the Vision 2030 ambitions and the ICT Sector Strategy 2023 set out by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). Saudi Arabia is a digital nation, perfectly positioned to kick-start an exciting era of investment and innovation across a wide variety of sectors. CITC’s move from a telecom regulator to a digital regulator will further accelerate the growth of the Kingdom’s digital economy. The Kingdom currently ranks fifth in the world for mobile Internet speed, with an average speed of 77.55 Mbps. A modern and pragmatic spectrum strategy puts Saudi Arabia second among the G20 countries for spectrum allocation and fourth in the world for 5G networks deployment. — SG