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Saudi Arabia Permits Four Telecom Companies to Extend Licenses’ Period | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Riyadh- The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) announced that four telecom companies were permitted to extend licenses’ period were unified licenses got issued for this purpose by virtue of the royal decree number 61534 dated 30/12/1437.

Abdulaziz Salem Al Ruwais, governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission, said that any company interested in extending its license should pay 5% of the annual net profit during the extension period.

“The unified licensing permits the licensed to establish networks and provide various services through techniques that go along with the company’s commercial and technical plan”, said Ruwais.

He added that this type of licenses encourages services’ providers to raise competency levels in the market and widen variety of options for users to get the service that suits them most. This type also provides developed telecommunication services and urges services’ providers to enhance efficiency and reduce cost.

Ruwais added that the unified license will work on widening the scope of various services in Saudi regions. He said, “current mobile telecommunication operator interested in getting the unified license should pay USD1.3 million (SAR5 million) just as Zain and Mobily did.”

CITC noted that Etisalat is not supposed to pay like other companies because it already has acquired license for all services.

“The telecommunication system has granted the Communications and Information Technology Commission the power to give licenses and monitor performance of specified companies. Companies that breach the rules will be sanctioned by a committee, independent from the commission, entrusted with issuing sanctions” said Ruwais.