JEDDAH: Several initiatives are to be implemented to ensure that Saudi Arabia is one of the first countries to provide fifth-generation (5G) technology, the governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), Abdulaziz bin Salem Al-Ruwais, said on Monday.
At a meeting in Rwanda of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, he said the information and communication technology (ICT) sector has the unlimited support of the Saudi government.
“Through its Vision 2030 (reform program), the Kingdom has embarked on implementing a funded national broadband plan, which led to a rise in Internet user penetration in the country to 82 percent by the end of 2017,” he added.
The meeting, chaired by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, discussed the challenges facing the adoption of 5G technology, investing in infrastructure development and protecting user rights, including privacy and information security.
Participants reviewed the targets set by the commission, including that by 2025 all countries should have a funded national broadband plan.
Al-Ruwais held meetings on the sidelines, and participated in meetings of the commission’s previously established teams.
The meetings discussed digital entrepreneurship, digital health, pandemic preparedness and vulnerable states.
The Kingdom is an active member of the commission, which comprises influential decision-makers in ICT research.
