Telcos regulator to launch 5G in Saudi Arabia by mid-2019, says official

Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) is expected to commercially launch the fifth generation (5G) network by mid-2019, Al-Eqtisadiyah reported, citing Majed Al-Mazyed, CITC’s deputy governor for technology and infrastructure.

On a global scale, it is widely expected that 5G commercial operations will launch in 2020, he said, adding that the Kingdom has taken some measures to expedite the process, such as setting up a national team led by CITC with the participation of service providers, telecom device manufacturers and academic entities.

The telecom regulator has facilitated importing 5G devices and coordinated with several public and private agencies to introduce the full potential of the 5G services to mobile operators.

According to data compiled by Argaam, CITC issued in May temporary licenses for 3.4-3.8 GHz bands for mobile service providers to start 5G trial operations.

The 5G network will be 100 times faster than the previous generation, which was launched in 2009.