In force
Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law
نظام الاتصالات وتقنية المعلومات
The Communications and Information Technology Law of Saudi Arabia. This page presents the official Arabic text of each article with plain-English explanations for residents and businesses.
- Articles
- 41
- In force
- 41
- Amended
- 0
- Issued
- 2/11/1443 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم (م/106) وتاريخ 1443/11/2هـ · قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم (592) وتاريخ 1443/11/1هـ
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Communications and Information Technology Law by topic
Definitions and Objectives of the Communications Law4 articlesPowers of the Ministry of Communications2 articlesLicensing Telecommunications Services7 articlesRadio Spectrum5 articlesInterconnection and Access3 articlesLaying Telecom Networks in Real Estate3 articlesCompetition and Mergers in Telecommunications5 articlesConfidentiality of Telecom User Data2 articlesWebsite Blocking and Internet Filtering3 articlesTelecom User Rights and Complaints5 articlesDomain Names and Numbering1 articleTelecom Equipment and Specifications2 articlesInspecting Telecom Service Providers3 articlesCommunications Law Violations and Penalties4 articles
Articles of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law
الفصل الأول: أحكام عامةArticles 1–3
- Article 1The article defines the key terms of the Communications and Information Technology Law, such as the Authority, service provider, user, license, permit, frequency spectrum and access.
- Article 2The article sets thirteen objectives of the Law, notably developing the sector, encouraging digital transformation, protecting the user, promoting competition and regulating the frequency spectrum and numbering.
- Article 3The article makes the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology responsible for supervising the sector and lists its tasks, from setting strategies and policies to ensuring universal service and continuity of essential services.
الفصل الثاني: التراخيصArticles 4–9
- Article 4A fee is collected for issuing and renewing licenses, providing communications or IT services commercially and using frequencies, set by the Ministry on the Authority's proposal.
- Article 5The article lists activities that may be carried out only with a license from the Authority, and allows the Council to require a license or registration for other services, devices and private networks.
- Article 6The article states when the Authority or Council may refuse renewal of, cancel, suspend or amend a license, registration or permit, and requires the Authority to ensure continuity of service.
- Article 7A service provider must obtain the Authority's approval before a material change in ownership or assignment of its license, and the Authority's non-objection to a material change in senior management, with 90 days for the Authority to decide.
- Article 8The Council classifies licenses, registrations and permits into categories with provisions and conditions for each, and a service provider must comply with the terms of its license, registration or permit.
- Article 9The Authority must establish a special register recording the data of licensees, registrants and permit holders and the category of each, with the data determined by the regulations.
الفصل الثالث: الطيف التردديArticles 10–16
- Article 10The frequency spectrum is a natural resource owned by the State, and the Authority prepares the national frequency spectrum plan for approval by the Ministry in coordination with military and security bodies.
- Article 11The Authority manages the frequency spectrum allocated for civil and commercial uses under the national plan, and sets electromagnetic exposure levels for non-ionizing spectrum and the rules for measuring them.
- Article 12No user or service provider may use any frequency until the Authority has allocated it to him, he has obtained the necessary license and he has paid the fee.
- Article 13If the civil and commercial spectrum is used in violation of the Law, the regulations or license terms, the Authority may stop the operation of the devices used or withdraw them from service, calling on security bodies when needed.
- Article 14The Authority must establish a national frequency register recording data on the frequency spectrum, manage it, keep its data updated and preserve its confidentiality.
- Article 15The article requires all service providers to meet reasonable interconnection or access requests, imposes stricter duties on a dominant provider covering 40% of the market, and gives the Authority binding power to resolve disputes.
- Article 16The article prohibits service providers from entering any interconnection or access agreement that endangers any person or property or harms other networks or services.
الفصل الخامس: استخدام العقاراتArticles 17–19
- Article 17The article gives infrastructure service providers an equal right to access public and private real estate to provide services, provided the owner knows and consents and within the limits of need.
- Article 18The article regulates the agreement between an infrastructure provider and a property owner for installing networks, and bars the owner from imposing a charge or refusing entry to serve a resident except for justified and lawful reasons.
- Article 19The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the provisions on establishing, operating and maintaining public communications networks, and on infrastructure providers sharing cable-laying sites.
الفصل السادس: المنافسةArticles 20–22
- Article 20The article requires the Board's approval before a service provider merges or anyone buys 5% or more of its shares or enough to reach control, and requires notifying the Authority within 5 working days of any preliminary merger agreement.
- Article 21The article prohibits a dominant provider in a relevant communications market, or part of it, from any activity or measure that abuses its position, and refers the details to the Implementing Regulations.
- Article 22The article prohibits service providers from agreeing on practices that make one of them dominant or that limit, prevent or reduce the effectiveness of competition, and makes the provisions of such agreements and decisions void.
الفصل السابع: حماية معلومات المستخدم ووثائقه السريةArticles 23–24
- Article 23The article obliges a service provider to protect the confidentiality of user information and documents, bars disclosing them without consent, requires immediate notice to the Authority and the user on a breach, and requires keeping them for the period the Authority sets.
- Article 24The article empowers the Authority, in coordination with the competent bodies, to filter the internet and block certain content or services at transit gateways, and prohibits bypassing filtering, facilitating its circumvention or providing the means.
الفصل الثامن: الرقابة والتفتيشArticles 25–25
الفصل التاسع: المخالفات والعقوباتArticles 26–29
- Article 26The article lists the acts that count as violations of the Communications Law, including dealing in non-compliant devices, operating without a license, misleading information, obstructing an inspector and harming networks.
- Article 27The article sets the penalties for violations: a fine of up to SAR 25 million, suspension of service, deprivation of a license and blocking of a platform, with surrender of proceeds and the possibility of publishing the decision.
- Article 28The article regulates the committee that hears violations of the Communications Law: its formation, membership and member qualifications, and allows appeal of its decision before the Administrative Court within 30 days of notification.
- Article 29The article gives anyone about whom the Authority has issued a decision the right to file a grievance with the Minister, under the legal procedures followed for objecting to an administrative decision.
الفصل العاشر: أحكام ختاميةArticles 30–41
- Article 30The article tasks the Authority, within its jurisdiction, with providing technical support and assistance in enforcing final judgments of the competent court against digital platform service providers.
- Article 31The article provides that universal service requirements and the universal use right apply under the rules and bases set by the Implementing Regulations of the law.
- Article 32The article provides for the confidentiality of telephone calls and of information sent or received over public communications networks, and bars viewing, listening to or recording them except in cases the laws specify.
- Article 33The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the provisions and procedures the Authority follows to protect the user and handle the complaints the user submits.
- Article 34The article allows any service provider in a dispute with another service provider to ask the Authority for an amicable settlement, and to turn to the competent court if the settlement is not accepted or 30 days pass without one.
- Article 35The Authority is responsible for setting the controls for announcing, promoting or amending price tariffs, international roaming agreements with providers outside the Kingdom, and establishing, selling, promoting and using calling cards.
- Article 36The article tasks the Authority with setting the technical specifications and standards for communications and information technology devices, in coordination with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, and taking what is needed to ensure devices comply with them.
- Article 37The article obliges a service provider and its contracted distributors, subcontractors and related persons to provide the data, information and documents requested by the Ministry or the Authority.
- Article 38The article gives the Minister, in emergencies, the power to oblige a service provider to provide specified services free of charge, interconnect, restrict spectrum, or share resources and activate national roaming.
- Article 39The article regulates Saudi domain names, technical identifiers and the national numbering plan, allows these tasks to be delegated, and obliges service providers to allow users to port their number according to their requirements.
- Article 40The article provides that the Implementing Regulations are issued by the Minister on the proposal of the Authority's board within 180 days of the law's publication, and take effect from the date the law takes effect.
- Article 41The article provides that this law replaces the Telecommunications Law issued in 1422 AH and repeals whatever conflicts with it, and that it takes effect 180 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.