The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) has officially released its Spectrum Outlook for Commercial and Innovative Use (2025–2027), a strategic roadmap designed to advance the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s global leadership in wireless technologies and digital innovation.

This three-year outlook reinforces the Kingdom’s commitment to optimizing radio spectrum use—recognized as a cornerstone for digital transformation, economic diversification, and global competitiveness. It reflects CST’s broader mission to enable a smart, sustainable digital future in alignment with Vision 2030.

Driving Innovation Across Key Sectors

The Spectrum Outlook outlines initiatives to unlock new opportunities across public and private sectors. It aims to:

• Expand spectrum access for public telecommunications networks, supporting service quality and nationwide coverage.

• Facilitate the deployment of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) and satellite communications.

• Enable Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) for enhanced broadband services.

• Promote advanced industrial use cases by allocating spectrum for private networks, Internet of Things (IoT), and smart logistics.

• Strengthen the Kingdom’s preparedness to host global events requiring intensive spectrum utilization.

To support these ambitions, CST will adopt modern regulatory frameworks including light licensing models and Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC), allowing Wi-Fi networks to operate more efficiently in outdoor environments.

Positioning the Kingdom for 6G and Beyond

The outlook highlights CST’s proactive steps in preparing for next-generation wireless technologies, including:

• Facilitating spectrum trading and dynamic spectrum access.

• Supporting research and innovation ecosystems.

• Encouraging public-private collaboration to foster 6G development and implementation.

These efforts are expected to accelerate digital investment and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading digital economy.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaborative Development

The outlook is the result of extensive consultation. CST gathered feedback from stakeholders across telecom, space, transportation, academia, and technology manufacturing. This collaborative approach ensures the roadmap reflects industry needs and positions the Kingdom at the forefront of wireless innovation.

Future Railway Mobile Communication Systems (FRMCS): A Leap Forward for Smart Mobility

In alignment with global railway modernization trends, CST has outlined its direction for supporting Future Railway Mobile Communication Systems (FRMCS)—the next-generation communication standard designed to replace GSM-R and enable intelligent rail networks.

Global Developments and Benefits
FRMCS is being adopted internationally to deliver:

• Cross-border interoperability for seamless railway operations.

• Higher data transmission speeds to enable real-time train diagnostics, video monitoring, and passenger services.

• Improved reliability and safety, with enhanced coverage and low-latency communication.

• Support for advanced applications, including predictive maintenance and asset management.

Spectrum Allocation in the Kingdom
CST will facilitate the transition from GSM-R to FRMCS by:

• Supporting the refarming of the 874.4–880 / 919.5–925 MHz (Band n100) currently used for GSM-R.

• Making the 1900–1910 MHz band (Band n101) available for FRMCS, as identified by CEPT.

This regulatory direction ensures the Kingdom’s railway sector is future-ready, connected, and capable of supporting advanced mobility solutions.

Download the document here