Page 97 - SAMENA Trends - July-September 2024

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia

His Excellency the Governor of the Communications, Space and the regulatory landscape in Saudi Arabia. The updated "IoT
Technology Commission, Dr. Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, Regulations" will be applied (60) days following the document's
met with the President of the National Telecommunications publication on CST website. The update includes facilitating
Agency (ANATEL) of Brazil, Mr. Carlos Manuel Baigorri, as service providers and investors journey in IoT, alignment with the
part of his visit to Brazil. The meeting aimed at strengthening national regulations and adapting to the latest communication
international cooperation, discussing ways to support technical technologies used in IoT. This will support a range of services
development and exchange expertise in Space and ICT sectors and advanced applications, including smart cities, logistics,
between the two countries. A number of topics were discussed transportation, energy, mining, tourism, and beyond.
during the meeting, including developing innovative solutions (August 23, 2024) www.cst.gov.sa
to regulate the Telecommunications sector, enhancing digital
infrastructure, and studying the sustainability of satellites, in The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST)
addition to organizing joint workshops and training programs to has announced the first participation of the Saudi Astronomy
exchange expertise between the two parties. The meeting is part Team at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and
of CST’s efforts to enhance the Kingdom's global role in in Space Astrophysics (IOAA2024) in Brazil, in collaboration with the King
and ICT sectors, and support innovative solutions that contribute Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and
to the development of these industries. (September 17, 2024) www.cst.gov.sa Creativity (Mawhiba). This achievement comes after CST's and
Mawhiba's joint programs that included training and preparing
H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, Governor of the students. The Saudi Astronomy Team is presented by Jude
Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), Basem Al-Luhyani from the Makkah Education Department, Fajr
participated in the opening of the Space Sustainability Forum. Hassan Al-Obaidan from the Al-Ahsa Education Department,
Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Hussein Hassan Al-Mubarak from the Eastern Province
the forum is taking place in Geneva. The event is designed to Education Department. Each member has undergone around 590
address the swift advancements in space technology and to offer hours of training. Their participation reflects CST's commitment
a global platform for discussion by bringing together leaders, to nurturing national talent for global competition in the Space
experts, specialists, and stakeholders from regulatory bodies as sector, empowering local individuals and motivating students to
well as Space and satellite agencies to explore policies, strategies, pursue careers in Space and related fields, which is all aimed at
and solutions essential for the sustainability of outer Space. H.E. strengthening Saudi Arabia’s capabilities in the Space industry.
Al-Tamimi highlighted that Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with CST has fulfilled these goals by implementing a series of training
ITU members and all other relevant stakeholders, is actively programs over a 12-month period. This initiative was designed in
contributing to the advancement of the Space economy and the collaboration with Mawhiba to prepare students for the IOAA2024,
achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Adding which assesses participants' skills in astronomical observation,
that Saudi Arabia harnesses its resources and specialized celestial mechanics, astrophysics, and cosmology. CST’s role as
expertise in communications, space and technology through a regulator in the Space sector is committed to offering a variety
initiatives designed to promote and support space sustainability of training and educational programs. These initiatives aim to
H.E. the Governor concluded his remarks by emphasizing Saudi prepare national cadres to keep up with rapid developments in
Arabia's ambition to explore new horizons for the future through Space and to enhance opportunities in the field.
advanced Space technologies, with the goal of achieving (August 20, 2024) www.cst.gov.sa
growth and sustainability for humanity, mentioning that the first
conference on Space debris, held in collaboration with the ITU The Communications, Space and Technology Commission
and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, aiming (CST) launch the “Competition on Non-Terrestrial Networks
to enhance global awareness of Space debris challenges. It is for 6G” International Research Competition, which aims to
important to mention that Saudi Arabia has been a member of the provide innovative solutions for 6G non-terrestrial networks
ITU since 1949, in addition to its membership in the ITU Council (NTN), promoting research and innovation in NTN and
since 1965, representing one of the 48 countries out of the 193 telecommunications. The submission of scientific and research
total member states. (September 11, 2024) www.cst.gov.sa papers will be available until 15 September 2024, according to
the conditions listed in the competition's website. The submitted
The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) papers will be evaluated and the top 10 ideas will be invited to
has updated the "IoT Regulatory Framework" document and participate in the “Connecting the World from the Skies" forum,
changed its name to "IoT Regulations”, in an effort to promote which will be held in Riyadh on 25-26 November 2024. At the
investment and innovation in IoT, improving services’ quality and forum, these ideas will go through the final assessment to declare
efficiency, enhancing the user experience, and strengthening the three winners. (August 12, 2024) www.cst.gov.sa

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