Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Technology Development and Investment (TAQNIA) on Thursday.
Pursuant to this memorandum, TAQNIA shall implement and operate the Saudi Internet Exchange (SIX), which represents one of the initiatives entered into force under the National Transformation Program, according to the ministry's statement.
The step is proceeding from Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and National Transformation Program 2020, including the objectives and initiatives geared to enhance the digital infrastructure of the ICT sector
The MoU aims to provide high speed broadband for all provinces of the Kingdom, by stimulating investment in infrastructure, and increasing the proportion of Internet users from 63% currently to 85% by end of 2020, the statement said.
MCIT conducted studies showed that the development of Kingdom’s Internet networks, upgrading their services and economies, enhancing their security features and reduction of negative aspects require the creation of a Saudi national internet exchange system, MCIT minister, Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel, said.
He added that the Saudi Internet Exchange would achieve a number of significant goals, most notably the inventory of Kingdom’s local Internet traffic, which would leverage the information security and privacy, support flow of Internet traffic, provide better service, reduce disruptability and allow orderly network growth, without obstacles or complications.
