Increasing Broadband Internet Penetration
In the OIC Member Countries
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This structure is gradually consolidating under two ministries: Ministry of Economy and
Planning and Ministry of Communication and Information technology. The Ministry of
Economy and Planning is assigned the responsibility of leading the development and
implementation of the digital agenda, On the other hand, the Ministry of Communication and
Information technology is in charge of supervising and coordinating the activities of Ministry
of Finance, Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Public Investment Fund, Ministry of Labor
and Social Development, Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of
Education.
Major approaches, implementations and challenges in extending fixed and mobile
broadband infrastructureThe Kingdom’s 2030 vision provides an overarching direction for broadband in Saudi Arabia.
Several of the vision’s economic objectives depend on the continued development of
broadband infrastructure. Examples of related objectives include:• Build a unique logistics hub;
• Integrate the Saudi economy both regionally and internationally;
• Support development of national Saudi enterprises;
• Rehabilitate economic cities;
• Establish special investment zones; and
• Support development of SMEs
Along theses lines, the government considers broadband to be a key catalyst. In particular,
competition is considered to be a key stimuli to accelerate the deployment of fiber optics.
Additionally, local governments are seen as key partners to operators on the promotion of
local infrastructure. The Universal Service Fund is considered to be a critical component for
supporting entry-level broadband investment in rural areas. Given the exploding traffic in
mobile broadband, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is planning
on making more frequency spectrum available for deployment of LTE.
V.2.4. Lessons LearnedThe assessment of broadband network and services in Saudi Arabia provides a basis for a
number of lessons learned. The following lessons learned are structured around the promotion
of enhanced supply and the stimulation of demand.
Supply policiesSaudi Arabia has achieved a high level of broadband infrastructure deployment. This has been
enabled by two regulatory initiatives:• Assignment of radio-frequency spectrum to enable the deployment of LTE networks
serving 85% of the population
• Promotion of infrastructure-based competition leading to the deployment of fiber
optic last-mile networks covering almost 40% of the population
Demand policies