CITC launches local roaming service in villages, hamlets without additional fees

Logo of Communications and Information Technology Commission

Saudi Arabia's Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) launched local roaming service in villages and hamlets without any additional fees.

The commission aims to enable users to change the network to another operator if the service of the primary operator is not available without any additional user fee.

In a statement, CITC explained that the local roaming includes voice call, internet, and SMS in 21,000 villages and hamlets, covered by the telecom services across the Kingdom. The services are calculated at the rate of the primary operator.

The local roaming project will start with Asir, to be followed by other regions by the end of 2021.

Mohammad Saud Al-Tamimi, Governor of CITC, said the local roaming service aims to allow operators to use the telecom networks of their peers to meet the requirements of beneficiaries and help telcos provide their services to the largest number of users.

In addition, the move aims to increase the number of available options, raise the level of competition, as well as improve service quality and beneficiary experience. It also supports digital transformation in villages and hamlets across the Kingdom, Al-Tamimi noted.