Saudi Arabia, situated in the Arabian Peninsula, is predominantly arid, with diverse terrain ranging from mountains to desert. The population of 36 million is concentrated in urban centres such as Riyadh and Jeddah, with vast, sparsely populated desert areas in between. This uneven population distribution presents challenges for infrastructure provision. Despite these challenges, Saudi Arabia is a regional leader in telecommunications, with extensive mobile and broadband networks. The country is investing heavily in technological innovation as part of its Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy away from oil. The renewables sector is still in its infancy, but with abundant sunshine and large desert areas, the potential for solar energy is significant. The kingdom is also pioneering smart city projects, such as the NEOM project, which aims to build a sustainable city powered by renewable energy.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 3 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) (شركة الاتصالات السعودية) is a telecommunications company operating in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was established in 1998, originally as a state-owned entity under the name Saudi Telecom Company. The company provides a range of services including landline, mobile, internet services and computer networks. In 2002, the Saudi Arabian government reduced its ownership to 70%, making room for public shareholders. STC KSA is a subsidiary of the Saudi Telecom Company, the leading national provider of telecommunication services in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabian...
Zain KSA, officially known as Mobile Telecommunication Company Saudi Arabia, is a telecommunications and digital services provider in Saudi Arabia. The company was established as a Saudi Joint Stock Company on 12 March 2008, and began commercial operations in August of the same year. Zain KSA entered the market as the third telecom operator in the country, after obtaining the necessary licenses from the Communications and Information Technology Commission (now known as CST).
In 2016, Zain KSA's existing 25-year license was extended for an additional 15 years by a High Order from the CST. The...