Article 5 of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law
المادة 5 من نظام الاتصالات وتقنية المعلومات · الفصل الثاني: التراخيص
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يشترط الحصول على ترخيص من الهيئة قبل القيام بأيّ مما يأتي:
أ- تقديم خدمات اتصالات للعموم أو استخدام شبكة اتصالات لهذا الغرض.
ب- تقديم خدمة بنية تحتية لشبكات الاتصالات العامة.
ج- استخدام أي مورد ترقيم أو طيف ترددي.
د- تقديم خدمات تسجيل أسماء النطاقات السعودية أو إنشاء مراكز لتسجيلها.
2- للمجلس -دون إخلال باختصاصات الجهات الأخرى ذات العلاقة- اشتراط الحصول على ترخيص أو تسجيل من الهيئة، في الحالات الآتية:
أ- تقديم خدمات معينة ذات علاقة بالاتصالات أو تقنية المعلومات -بما فيها منصات المحتوى الرقمي- ويحدد المجلس طبيعة هذه الخدمات والأحكام المتعلقة بها.
ب- حيازة أو استخدام أجهزة ذات علاقة بالاتصالات أو تقنية المعلومات.
ج- إنشاء شبكة اتصالات خاصة.ويضع المجلس الضوابط اللازمة للحصول على الترخيص أو التسجيل أو التصريح.
3- تحدد الهيئة الحالات التي يشترط فيها الحصول على موافقتها قبل ربط شبكة اتصالات خاصة بشبكة اتصالات عامة.
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 5 explained in plain English
This article is the basis for knowing when an activity needs prior permission from the Authority. It divides the cases into three kinds:
First: activities that always need a license before starting them:
- Providing communications services to the public, or using a communications network for this purpose.
- Providing an infrastructure service for public communications networks.
- Using any numbering resource or frequency spectrum.
- Providing registration services for Saudi domain names or establishing centers to register them.
Second: activities for which the Council may require a license or registration, without prejudice to the powers of other bodies:
- Certain services related to communications or information technology, including digital content platforms, the nature and provisions of which the Council determines.
- Possessing or using devices related to communications or information technology.
- Establishing a private communications network.
The Council sets the controls for obtaining a license, registration or permit.
Third: connecting a private network to a public one; the Authority determines the cases in which its approval must be obtained before this connection.
This is linked to the fee for licenses in Article 4, and the Authority's powers to refuse renewal, cancel or suspend in Article 6. This article does not specify which services or devices the Council has actually required a license for; that is learned from its decisions. Anyone planning an activity in this field would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in communications and information technology laws.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh wants to launch a wireless internet service for the public that uses frequencies. This activity combines providing a communications service to the public with using a frequency spectrum, and both require a license from the Authority before starting.
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 5 of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law
Do I need a license to provide an internet service to the public?
Yes. Providing communications services to the public, or using a communications network for this purpose, requires obtaining a license from the Authority before starting.
Do digital content platforms need a license?
The Council may require a license or registration for certain services, including digital content platforms, and it determines the nature of these services and their provisions.
Can a private network be connected to the public network?
The Authority determines the cases in which its approval must be obtained before connecting a private communications network to a public communications network.
More articles on Licensing Telecommunications Services
- Article 4
A 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.
1- يُستحصل مقابل مالي -يورد إلى الخزينة العامة للدولة- لإصدار التراخيص وتجديدها، ولتقديم خدمات الاتصالات أو تقنية المعلومات تجاريًّا، ولاستخدام الترددات. 2- يُس
- Article 6
The 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.
1- للهيئة رفض طلب تجديد الترخيص أو التسجيل أو التصريح، أو إلغاء الترخيص أو التسجيل أو التصريح، أو تعليق أو تعديل أي منها؛ في أيّ من الحالات الآتية: أ- عدم معالج
- Article 7
A 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.
1- دون إخلال بما تقضي به الأنظمة الأخرى، على مقدم الخدمة الحصول على الآتي: أ- موافقة الهيئة قبل اتخاذ أي من الإجراءين الآتيين: (1) تغيير جوهري في ملكية المرخص ل
- Article 8
The 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.
1- يُصنّف المجلس الترخيص والتسجيل والتصريح إلى فئات، ويضع الأحكام والشروط الخاصة بكل فئة. 2- على مقدم الخدمة الالتزام بأحكام وشروط الترخيص الممنوح له أو التسجيل
- Article 9
The 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.
تنشئ الهيئة سجلًّا خاصًّا تقيد فيه بيانات ومعلومات المرخص له أو المسجل أو المصرح له، وفئة الترخيص الممنوح له أو التسجيل أو التصريح المدرج فيه، وتحدد اللائحة تلك
- Article 12
No 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.
لا يجوز لأي مستخدم أو مقدم خدمة استخدام أي تردُّد إلا بعد تخصيصه له من الهيئة وحصوله على الترخيص اللازم وتسديد المقابل المالي.
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.