Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha conducted a field visit on Sunday to stc Group's operations center in Makkah to assess the Group's comprehensive digital, technical, and logistical readiness to serve pilgrims during the 1446 AH Hajj season. The minister was accompanied by Vice Minister and Acting Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission Eng. Haytham Al-Ohali, stc Group CEO Eng. Olayan Mohammed Al-Wetaid, and senior officials. During the visit, stc Group presented its strategic technical plan to ensure optimal service delivery across Makkah, Madinah, and the Holy Sites. The plan includes detailed analysis of network performance at more than 350 key locations, with infrastructure upgrades in areas expected to experience peak capacity. In anticipation of a projected 30% increase in data usage during Hajj, the Group has upgraded over 30 5G sites and developed more than 80 advanced 4G sites. VoLTE (Voice over LTE) technology has also been activated to enhance voice and video communication and enable faster data transmission. To improve coverage, stc has established 21 new sites within the holy sites and deployed 78 mobile communication units to serve high-density areas and zones where permanent infrastructure is difficult to implement. In total, the network will be supported by 421 fixed sites and 77 mobile towers, along with 998 Wi-Fi access points strategically installed to ensure continuous and seamless internet connectivity for pilgrims. The Group has also set up 11 logistics units and 99 maintenance centers across the holy areas, staffed by specialized technical teams operating 24/7 to maintain uninterrupted service throughout the Hajj period. As part of its commitment to digital empowerment and innovation, stc unveiled a pioneering AI-driven initiative to assist pilgrims through multilingual 3D guidance. Featuring one of the largest interactive smart tables in the world, the system enables pilgrims to access comprehensive information about Hajj rituals in an intuitive and user
