Riyadh, September (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 24 سبتمبر 2025ء) The journey began in 1926 with the establishment of the first Directorate of Post, Telephone, and Telegraph (PTT), followed by the construction of the first wireless telegraph tower in 1931, standing 60 meters tall in the Jubrah district of Riyadh. It was there that King Abdulaziz made the first telephone call with his Crown Prince, King Saud, marking a historic milestone that inaugurated the Kingdom’s national communications journey.
This trajectory was further strengthened in 1929 with the establishment of a wireless station in Makkah, which included a specialized school to train personnel in telecommunication skills. It was followed in 1938 by the opening of the wireless communications station in Riyadh to expand both domestic and international connectivity.
This approach culminated in 1946 when King Abdulaziz attended the “Atlantic City” conference and delivered a historic speech on wired and wireless communications, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to shaping the future of global communications.
In 1957, the late King Saud inaugurated the first wireless telephone station in Riyadh by making a trial call, marking the Kingdom’s entry into a new era of technological openness. The journey continued under the late King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, who in 1987 inaugurated the satellite station in Al-Baha, ushering in the era of satellite communications and connecting the Kingdom to the world via space.
By the early 1990s, fixed-line and mobile telephone services had expanded, and internet service was introduced in 1994 to universities and government entities before becoming publicly available in 1997, marking a new chapter in the Kingdom’s digital transformation.
The pivotal phase occurred between 1997 and 2001, when telecommunications services were transferred from the Ministry of Post, Telegraph, and Telephone to the Saudi Telecom Company, followed by the issuance of the Telecommunications Law, which established modern regulatory frameworks.
In 2002, the privatization process began with the offering of 30% of the company’s shares for public subscription, while the regulatory authority’s mandate expanded to include information technology (IT), ushering the Kingdom into an era of competitive openness and technological innovation.
Under the reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the sector entered a golden era, marked by the deployment of fiber-optic networks, the expansion of fifth-generation (5G) coverage, the establishment of major data centers, and the strengthening of cybersecurity, positioning the Kingdom as one of the fastest-growing countries in digital transformation worldwide.
The outcomes of this investment are evident in the Kingdom’s global standing: in 2024, it ranked second worldwide in key technology indicators, and in 2025, it claimed first place in the ICT Development Index issued by the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU), solidifying its position among the world’s leading digital nations.
On the ground, these achievements have directly impacted the lives of citizens and residents through innovative applications that have transformed the concept of government services: the Absher app has delivered over 430 million e-services, the Tawakkalna app has more than 34 million users, and the Qiwa app has documented 11 million employment contracts.
Moreover, the Sehhaty application recorded over 53 million vital-sign readings and 23 million remote appointments, while the Nusuk platform served 18 million pilgrims and visitors worldwide in seven languages.
The Kingdom’s telecommunications and IT journey — from the era of telegrams to the digital revolution — reflects a visionary leadership that anticipated the future from the very beginning, demonstrating that early investment in infrastructure and technical knowledge has always been, and continues to be, a cornerstone in building an ambitious nation.
With Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for innovation and technology, in line with its comprehensive development and ambition to become a leading digital power serving both people and the future.
