Saudi telecommunications market is largest in Middle East, says ITU secretary-general

Houlin Zhao, secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), hailed Saudi Arabia’s efforts and its remarkable initiatives in telecommunications fields, including the launch of a new platform to enhance international cooperation in the digital fields. He described the Kingdom’s telecommunications market as the largest in the Middle East region, reports the Saudi Gazette, 

Zhao made the remarks during a three-day webinar titled “Radio Spectrum for IMT-2020 and beyond: Fostering Commercial and Innovative Use”, co-organized by ITU and the Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) of Saudi Arabia. The webinar focuses on the latest spectrum of innovation and best practices for policymakers.

Zhao praised the regulatory maturity of the telecommunications and information technology (CIT) sector in the Kingdom. “As per the classification of ITU, CITC is one of the most regulated and developed CIT bodies in the world,” he added.

Inaugurating the event on Tuesday, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha highlighted the role of digital infrastructure, calling it the lifeblood of the global economy after the coronavirus pandemic. He also stressed its importance in the success and resilience of the economy.

Al-Swaha underscored the Kingdom’s keenness to cooperate with ITU and its global partners in the field of the spectrum to enhance the benefits from it. He stressed the importance of the meeting of decision-makers in the field of spectrum in the seminar to discuss this important resource.

More than 70 high-ranking officials and specialists from various governmental, private, and academic agencies attended the virtual event. The webinar is being convened as part of unifying global efforts and visions in the field of the frequency spectrum, and to activate its role in promoting digital transformation in the Kingdom and the world.

 

Source: commonspace.eu with agencies 
Photo: Houlin Zhao, secretary-general of the ITU. 

 

 

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Germany accuses Russia of cyberattacks and disinformation campaign

Germany accuses Russia of cyberattacks and disinformation campaign

The German government holds Russia responsible for a cyberattack on German air traffic control, and for targeted disinformation campaigns before the last federal election. According to the German Foreign Office in Berlin, the incidents could be clearly attributed to the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU. In response, the Russian ambassador to Berlin was summoned to the Foreign Ministry. "We have been observing a massive increase in threatening hybrid activities by Russia for some time now," a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry stated. These range from disinformation campaigns and espionage to cyberattacks and sabotage attempts. The aim is to divide society, sow distrust, and undermine confidence in democratic institutions. The spokesperson added that with these actions, Russia is "very concretely threatening our security, not only through its war of aggression against Ukraine, but also here in Germany."  The Foreign Ministry spokesperson explained that the cyberattack on air traffic control in August 2024 was clearly attributed to the hacker collective "APT28," known as "Fancy Bear," and to the responsibility of the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU. Furthermore, it could now be "conclusively stated" that Russia had attempted "to influence and destabilize both the last Federal election and the ongoing internal affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany." There was "absolutely irrefutable evidence" for this". The so-called "Storm 1516" campaign, which has been running since 2024, is allegedly backed by "reliable information" that the Moscow-based think tank "Center for Geopolitical Expertise" is behind it. The Center is also said to be supported by Russian military intelligence. Its primary aim is to influence democratic elections in the West. (Click the image to read more).

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Germany accuses Russia of cyberattacks and disinformation campaign

Germany accuses Russia of cyberattacks and disinformation campaign

The German government holds Russia responsible for a cyberattack on German air traffic control, and for targeted disinformation campaigns before the last federal election. According to the German Foreign Office in Berlin, the incidents could be clearly attributed to the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU. In response, the Russian ambassador to Berlin was summoned to the Foreign Ministry. "We have been observing a massive increase in threatening hybrid activities by Russia for some time now," a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry stated. These range from disinformation campaigns and espionage to cyberattacks and sabotage attempts. The aim is to divide society, sow distrust, and undermine confidence in democratic institutions. The spokesperson added that with these actions, Russia is "very concretely threatening our security, not only through its war of aggression against Ukraine, but also here in Germany."  The Foreign Ministry spokesperson explained that the cyberattack on air traffic control in August 2024 was clearly attributed to the hacker collective "APT28," known as "Fancy Bear," and to the responsibility of the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU. Furthermore, it could now be "conclusively stated" that Russia had attempted "to influence and destabilize both the last Federal election and the ongoing internal affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany." There was "absolutely irrefutable evidence" for this". The so-called "Storm 1516" campaign, which has been running since 2024, is allegedly backed by "reliable information" that the Moscow-based think tank "Center for Geopolitical Expertise" is behind it. The Center is also said to be supported by Russian military intelligence. Its primary aim is to influence democratic elections in the West. (Click the image to read more).