Article 34 of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law
المادة 34 من نظام الاتصالات وتقنية المعلومات · الفصل العاشر: أحكام ختامية
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
دون إخلال بحكم الفقرة (3) من المادة (الخامسة عشرة) من النظام، عند حدوث نزاع بين مقدمي الخدمة، فلأي منهم التقدم إلى الهيئة للنظر في تسوية النزاع وديًّا. وله في حال عدم قبول التسوية أو مرور (ثلاثين) يومًا دون الوصول إلى تسوية اللجوء إلى المحكمة المختصة، وتحدد اللائحة إجراءات التسوية الودية.
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 34 explained in plain English
This article regulates how disputes are resolved between service providers themselves, not between a user and a service provider.
The steps:
- Amicable settlement: Either of the disputing service providers may apply to the Authority to consider settling the dispute amicably.
- Turning to the court: It may turn to the competent court in either of two cases:
- the settlement is not accepted; or
- 30 days pass without reaching a settlement.
The Implementing Regulations set the procedures for amicable settlement.
Relationship to Article 15: The article begins with the phrase "without prejudice to the provision of paragraph (3) of Article 15". That paragraph provides that every service provider may negotiate with another provider on interconnection or access, and if they do not agree it may ask the Authority to decide, and the Authority's decision is binding on all parties. Interconnection and access disputes thus have their own route through a binding decision of the Authority, which this article does not affect, while Article 34 deals with disputes between service providers through amicable settlement and then the court.
The article does not name the competent court. Anyone facing a dispute with another service provider should consult a lawyer specializing in communications and information technology law to identify the appropriate route.
Practical example
Two telecom companies disagreed over amounts owed between them under a commercial agreement. One applied to the Authority to settle the dispute amicably, and 30 days passed without reaching a settlement, so it became entitled to turn to the competent court.
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 34 of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law
How are disputes between telecom companies resolved?
Either may apply to the Authority to consider settling the dispute amicably, and the Implementing Regulations set the settlement procedures.
When can the court be approached?
When the settlement is not accepted, or 30 days pass without reaching a settlement.
Does the article cover interconnection disputes?
The article does not affect paragraph (3) of Article 15, under which the Authority decides with a binding decision when there is no agreement on interconnection or access.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Interconnection and Access
- Article 15
The 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.
1- يلتزم جميع مقدمي الخدمة بتلبية الطلبات المعقولة لربط الاتصال البيني أو النفاذ التي يتقدم بها مقدمو خدمة آخرون، وذلك وفقاً للأحكام التي تحددها اللائحة. 2- يلت
- Article 16
The article prohibits service providers from entering any interconnection or access agreement that endangers any person or property or harms other networks or services.
يُمنع مقدمو الخدمة من الدخول في أي اتفاق لربط الاتصال البيني أو النفاذ إذا كان من شأنه تعريض أي شخص أو ممتلكاته للخطر، أو الإضرار بشبكات أو خدمات اتصالات أو تقن
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.