Article 38 of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law

This article gives the Minister exceptional powers that are exercised only in emergencies.

The Minister may oblige a service provider to do any of the following:

1. Services free of charge: Provide specified communications and information technology services without charge, to the extent the public interest requires.
2. Interconnection and access: Interconnect or provide access between service providers in a way that serves the public interest.
3. Spectrum: Restrict its use of any spectrum, or make it available to any other body.
4. Resources and roaming: Share resources and network elements, and activate national roaming.

Restrictions stated in the text:

• There must be an emergency.
• The free services must be specified and to the extent the public interest requires.
• Interconnection or access must serve the public interest.

The article does not define an emergency, and does not set out the procedures for exercising these powers or their duration, but provides that the Implementing Regulations specify the provisions relating to them.

National roaming usually means that the subscribers of one operator can use another operator's network inside the Kingdom, which is useful if one operator's network goes down. After it comes Article 39, which regulates domain names, numbering and number portability. Service providers who receive a decision of this kind may seek the help of a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.