RIYADH — Communications and information technology networks in the Kingdom have achieved a remarkable success in absorbing the increasing demand for their services since the introduction of mandatory precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 infection, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Sunday. This success was directly reflected on the performance of the work system in the government and private sectors, resulting in high performance rates in the utilization of technology in carrying out the tasks of various bodies and agencies, during the period from last March to the current month of June. The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) revealed a significant increase in data consumption during the coronavirus pandemic period, when the rate of increased data consumption for the Internet grew. It exceeded 34 percent during the pandemic, indicating that the increase in the consumption of fixed Internet data during the coronavirus pandemic period reached 45 percent, while the percentage of increase in mobile data consumption was 24 percent during the same period. The CITC explained that the average per capita consumption of mobile Internet data is estimated at 600 megabytes per day before the COVID-19 crisis, which is twice the global average estimated at 200 - 300 megabytes. This number increased during the coronavirus pandemic to exceed three times the global average, after the average per capita consumption in the Kingdom reached 920 MB. To accommodate the increase in data consumption and meet the increasing demand, the CITC has provided additional frequencies for operators on the two bands (700 and 800) MHz, an increase of more than 50% over the frequencies used in those bands. It also provided support to a number of vital sectors such as health and education by strengthening the communications infrastructure of the National Health Emergency Operation Center (NHEOC), providing the "Sehha" (Health) app, the e-learning platforms, "Tawakkalna" app that is being provided freely to all users, and support for the virtual education infrastructure.
