Saudi Arabia successfully deploying technology against COVID-19: ITU

Saudi Arabia has been successfully deploying information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the fight against COVID-19, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) said in a recent report.

The report added that bringing government agencies and the private sector together as well as pushing information out reliably and regularly have been pillars of the Saudi strategy to use ICTs to manage COVID-19.

As such, early planning, far-sighted regulation and targeted investment in the infrastructure required to power a modern digital economy have already paved the way for the country to deploy a range of digital technologies.

This focus on building a strong foundation for digital development allowed Saudi Arabia to act quickly to deploy ICTs to reduce the virus’s impact, keep vital communications links open, and continue to provide an improving quality of life for people in the Kingdom, the ITU report maintained.

The report added that Saudi internet speeds and access have remained strong, due in large part to the earlier investments in digital infrastructure, and to Communications and Information Technology Commission’s (CITC) prompt response to further increase spectrum allocation.

In March 2020, Saudi mobile service providers were temporarily licensed to use an additional 40 MHz in the 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands, a 50% increase in the spectrum holdings for service providers.