Article 31 of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law
المادة 31 من نظام الاتصالات وتقنية المعلومات · الفصل العاشر: أحكام ختامية
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تطبق متطلبات الخدمة الشاملة وحق الاستخدام الشامل؛ وفقاً للقواعد والأسس التي تحددها اللائحة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 31 explained in plain English
This is a short referral article that provides two things:
- That universal service and the universal use right have "requirements" that are to be applied.
- That these requirements are applied under the rules and bases set by the Implementing Regulations, which under Article 1 means the Implementing Regulations of the law.
The article does not itself define these two concepts, and does not itself specify:
- the content of these requirements;
- who they apply to; or
- how they are applied.
All of this is left to the Implementing Regulations and cannot be known from the text of the article.
This article falls within the closing provisions of the law, after Article 30, under which the Authority, within its jurisdiction, provides technical support and assistance in enforcing final judgments of the competent court against digital platform service providers, and before Article 32, which provides for the confidentiality of telephone calls and of information sent or received over public communications networks.
Anyone who wants the details of universal service and the universal use right should refer to the Implementing Regulations or consult a lawyer specializing in communications and information technology law.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 31 of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law
What is meant by universal service in telecommunications?
Article 31 does not define universal service. It provides that its requirements and the requirements of the universal use right are applied under the rules and bases set by the Implementing Regulations of the law.
How is universal service applied?
Its requirements are applied under the rules and bases set by the Implementing Regulations of the law.
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The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.