CITC launches 3-year plan for commercial use of frequency spectrum

CITC headquarters

The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) issued a three-year outlook (2021-2023) for the commercial and innovative use of the spectrum in Saudi Arabia, within the framework of implementing the initiatives of the National Spectrum Strategy.

This aims to enable innovative use of the frequency spectrum, keeping pace with the strategic shift in the CITC’s role as a digital regulator, according to a statement.

This plan is considered an extension for CITC’s efforts to support and enable the transformation of the Kingdom into a digital society and bring it to the global leadership in the field of radio communication and wireless technologies.

CITC seeks to allocate more than 23 gigahertz (GHz) of the frequency spectrum for a wide range of uses. It will continue to follow developments in wireless technologies and study allocating more frequencies to keep pace with them.

This plan will contribute to determining the frequency spectrum uses in line with the best international practices in this field, and with the continuous efforts to enable digital transformation in the Kingdom, and the resulting increased consumption of data.

It aims to enable modern wireless technologies and create the appropriate environment for their adoption. Among the most prominent wireless technologies are 5G, broadband via satellite, 6G of WiFi, Internet of things (IoT), and intelligent transport systems (ITS).

Through this plan, it will pursue a package of innovative and flexible methods of spectrum management using databases. This will include mechanisms for distributing and providing spectrum, holding public auctions, enabling license-exempt uses, and empowering the participatory use of spectrum or infrastructure in order to ensure the enhancement of competitiveness in the market, and support innovation.