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Communications, Space and Technology Commission (Saudi Arabia)

(Redirected from Communications and Information Technology Commission (Saudi Arabia))

The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST; Arabic: هيئة الاتصالات والفضاء والتقنية, Hai'at al-Ittisalat wa Tiqniyyat al-Ma`lumat) is the Saudi communications authority. It was first established under the name of Saudi Communications Commission in accordance with the decision of the Council of Ministers. The name was changed after the commission was assigned new tasks related to information technology. Since October 2006, CITC has been handling the DNS structure and filtering in Saudi Arabia in the place of KACST (King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology).[1]

Communications, Space and Technology Commission
(CST)
هيئة الاتصالات والفضاء والتقنية
Government agency overview
Formed28 April 2001; 23 years ago (2001-04-28)
Preceding Government agency
  • Saudi Communications Commission
HeadquartersRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
24°44′56″N 46°41′18″E / 24.74889°N 46.68833°E / 24.74889; 46.68833
Government agency executives
Parent Government agencyMinistry of Communications and Information Technology
Websitewww.cst.gov.sa/en

Censorship

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Main article: Censorship in Saudi Arabia

The Communications, Space and Technology Commission is responsible for regulating the Internet and for hosting a firewall which blocks access to thousands of websites, mainly due to sexual and political content. Access to Megaupload has been intermittently blocked by the Internet authorities in Saudi Arabia.

ICT sector

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CST] is responsible for regulating the ICT sector in Saudi Arabia. The Telecommunications Act, issued by Royal Decree in 2001, provide the legal framework for organizing this sector. This Act involves a number of objectives such as: Providing advanced and adequate telecommunication services with affordable prices, creating an appropriate atmosphere to encourage fair competition, using frequencies effectively, localization of telecommunication technology and managing recent advancements, clarity and transparency in procedures, equality and neutrality, protection of the public interest as well as the interest of users and investors.[2]

Postal services

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Since the end of 2019, CITC became responsible for regulating the postal sector in Saudi Arabia. This involved studying the current market, improving regulatory environment and supporting service providers to enhance the quality of their services.[3]

New technology

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In alignment with the Saudi Vision 2030 and the National transformation program 2020, CITC is keen on facilitating the growth and localization of the IT & Tech sector in Kingdom. By 2023, CITC aims to increase the IT and emerging Tech market size, by regulating and licensing these technologies, and driving global investment.[4]

Services

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  • Compliance
  • Report
  • Argami
  • Coverage maps
  • Spectrum
  • Radio Type Approval
  • Domain Name Registration
  • Equipment licensing
  • Meqyas
  • Boniah

Board Membership

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References

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  1. ^ "Communications, Space and Technology Commission, Saudi Arabia, Annual Report 2005" (PDF) (Press release). Communications, Space and Technology Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
  2. ^ "CITC to lower cap on termination rates for local mobile and fixed calls". 11 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Postal Sector laws".
  4. ^ "Saudi Telecom Regulator CITC Issues Competition for New MVNOs". Archived from the original on 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
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