CST Background
The Commission is linked to the history of telecommunications services in theCST’s Roles & Responsibilities
Regulating Telecommunications Sector
The telecommunications sector is the first sector regulated by the Commission. As it is responsible for granting licenses for providing communication andRegulating Space Sector
In 1444 AH, the Commission became the official regulator of Saudi Arabia's space sector, assuming responsibility for both oversight and business development. A notable milestone was the Commission’s involvement in organizing the May 21, 2023 mission that sent Saudi astronauts Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi to the International Space Station. It also initiated its first regulatory activities by launching the Earth Observation (EO) platform service permit in 2024 .The Commission promotes economic growth in the space sector by supporting educational scholarships in space sciences, organizing startup competitions, and fulfilling its regulatory duties through licensing and policy development.Regulating Technology Sector
The Commission regulates Saudi Arabia's technology market by licensing technology companies, establishing frameworks for emerging technologies, and compiling market statistics and key performance indicators. It also manages the regulatory sandbox for emerging technologies.Managing Frequency Spectrum
Besides the three sectors that form its name, the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) manages Saudi Arabia's national frequency spectrum. This includes developing the national frequency spectrum plan with relevant stakeholders, organizing and distributing frequencies at the national level for various radio services, issuing frequency licenses, coordinating internationally to ensure compatibility of frequencies with international regulations, monitoring spectrum usage, and handling wireless interference issues.National Regulatory Roles
The Commission leads Saudi Arabia's digital regulatory agenda as chair of the National Regulations Committee, which coordinates regulatory bodies to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies throughout the economy, while focusing on the communications and information technology sector. The Commission has established the Digital Regulatory Academy (DRA) to develop national expertise in digital regulation. The Academy provides training to regulatory staff both within Saudi Arabia and abroad, as well as to employees of companies in sectors under the Authority's jurisdiction.International Roles
The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) represents Saudi Arabia in organizations, forums, and conferences related to its regulatory domains. Since 2023, it has held membership on the International Telecommunication Union Council (among 48 countries), in addition to its ITU membership (among 193 countries) since 1949. It also actively participates in ITU activities and working groups, including the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly and the Radio Spectrum Advisory Group.Achievements
Some of the Commission’s accomplishments: *Achieved a Leading Position in the Digital Regulatory Maturity Index according to the ITU *Established the first Cloud Computing Special Economic Zone *Secured Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd among the G20 countries in the ITU’s ICT Development Index 2024 for the second consecutive year *Implemented the unified charging port initiative for mobile phones and electronic devices, generating annual savings of 170 million SAR and reducing domestic consumption by 2.2 million units yearly *Formed the first the First Space Entrepreneurship Alliance in Saudi Arabia *Launched a collaborative initiative with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to create innovative solutions for bridging the global digital dividehttps://sabq.org/saudia/31gznuj53tRead Also
* Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Saudi Arabia) * Abdullah Alswaha * Mohammed AltamimiReferences
{{Portal, Saudi Arabia Communications authorities Telecommunications in Saudi Arabia Government agencies of Saudi Arabia Censorship in Saudi Arabia Regulation in Saudi Arabia