Saudi Arabia Announces Candidacy for ITU Council Re-Election
Geneva, The Gulf Observer: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has formally announced its candidacy to retain membership in the Council of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), reaffirming its dedication to advancing global telecommunications and digital development. The announcement was made during the 2025 ITU Council session held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Addressing the council on Tuesday, Eng. Haytham AlOhali, Acting Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), highlighted Saudi Arabia’s leading role in supporting the global telecommunications and information technology ecosystem. He emphasized the Kingdom’s steadfast commitment to international cooperation, particularly in bridging the digital divide and accelerating efforts to connect underserved populations in the digital and artificial intelligence era.
AlOhali noted that, at the current rate of connecting approximately 200 million people annually, it would take more than 13 years to connect the remaining 2.6 billion individuals worldwide. “This pace is unacceptable,” he said. “We must reduce the timeframe by more than 50 percent. Through innovation and collaboration, we can connect the unconnected within five years—or even sooner.”
He added that Saudi Arabia has successfully reduced its national digital connectivity gap to less than 1 percent and has leveraged technology to create transformative solutions in education, healthcare, energy, and public services.
The Acting Governor also highlighted the Kingdom’s collaboration with the ITU in introducing the AI Readiness Framework, which emphasizes that artificial intelligence must be inclusive, human-centered, and focused on empowering youth and women.
AlOhali pointed to the remarkable growth in Saudi Arabia’s digital workforce, with professionals in the sector increasing from 150,000 in 2018 to over 380,000 by 2024. Women’s participation in the ICT sector has risen from 7 percent to 35 percent, surpassing global and G20 averages. He credited these accomplishments to the visionary leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia’s regulatory innovation has also earned global recognition. The Kingdom ranked second among G20 countries in the ITU’s ICT Regulatory Tracker and has launched initiatives to promote digital regulatory maturity in more than 100 countries, emphasizing the importance of flexible and innovation-driven regulatory frameworks for inclusive digital transformation.
As part of its ongoing partnership with the ITU, AlOhali announced that Saudi Arabia will host the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) from August 31 to September 3, 2025, in Riyadh, under the theme “Regulation for Sustainable Digital Development.” He extended an invitation to all ITU member states to attend this significant forum, underscoring the Kingdom’s enduring collaboration with the ITU and its commitment to shaping future-focused, inclusive, and sustainable regulatory environments.
The ITU Council, comprising 48 elected member states out of a total of 194, plays a crucial role in overseeing the Union’s operations between Plenipotentiary Conferences. Its responsibilities include steering the ITU’s activities, approving budgets and operational plans, and formulating strategic recommendations to guide the global telecommunications sector.
Saudi Arabia’s re-election bid highlights its sustained leadership and active engagement in fostering inclusive global digital development and technological innovation.
