Riyadh: Saudi Arabia is planning a study to develop its information and communications technology (ICT) sector and make it rely significantly on local products rather than only on exports, said a senior Saudi ICT official.
Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Jaafari, governor of the state-owned Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), said in press statements that the move comes within the kingdom's endeavour to become a knowledge-based economy.
He pointed out that the liberalisation of the ICT market will rapidly lead to a changes in communication technologies and will encourage the growth of new services like mobile phones, the Internet and wireless communications.
Earlier in November, members of the government-appointed Shoura (Consultative) Council strongly criticised the high costs of communications in the kingdom.
They urged the authorities to reconsider, in particular, the high costs of mobile calls and messaging.
"We requested that these services be offered at reasonable and affordable prices," one member said.
Responding to Shoura criticisms, the CITC governor quoted a recent study by Arab Advisors Group stating that telecom charges in the kingdom are on par or lower compared with other countries in the region.
Al Jaafari said the prices were going down gradually, and added that the CITC was the regulator of competition in the ICT market and it intervenes in the market to protect consumers by monitoring prices, service quality and the development of services.
"We also issue licences for new operators, as well as for new services, and settle disputes between local telecom operators," he pointed out.
He said the commission has the greatest concern for investments in the ICT sector, and added that a study it has done has revealed there are promising investment opportunities in the sector.
There are at present three mobile operators in the Saudi market, including UAE Mobily Telecom, and two landline operators.
