Saudi telecom regulator issues rules to ensure service continuity

The Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) has issued rules and procedures with the aim of ensuring continuity of telecom service to subscribers in cases of emergencies.

The regulator said the new rules seek to ensure service to subscribers is not interrupted, if the license granted to a telecom operator is suspended or cancelled.
 

It added that the regulatory blueprint seeks to set up a clear mechanism to regulate the handover of service between local operators in cases of emergencies.

The document stated that if a telecom operator failed to continue to provide the service for reasons relating to actual or potential bankruptcy, the operator shall submit an immediate notification to this effect to the regulator.

The notification shall include the reasons for ceasing to provide the service, details of subscribers affected, operator’s revenue, market share, main competitors, details of network coverage, frequency spectrum, the methods used to maintain records of users, and relevant arrangements and agreements.

A contingency plan may have to be submitted by the operator, the document added.