Tata Communications granted local ISP, telecom licence in Saudi

Tata Communications can now provide internet and certain telecom services to enterprises, along with local currency billing for end-customers in Saudi Arabia, after being granted a ‘Type B’ licence by the regulator.

The licence also enables the company to change status from a foreign carrier in the Middle East to a locally licenced service provider.

Through this licence, Tata Communications will now become a carrier-neutral service provider to OTTs, large enterprises and MNCs in the region. The company will be able to offer network services in Saudi and address internet, network security, private cloud and SDWAN requirements across the region.

“By securing this telecom license in Saudi, we will be able to seamlessly bring carrier-neutral services like internet connectivity, public/private cloud, cybersecurity, borderless mobility and more such services to the region,” said Vaneet Mehta, associate vice president and region head, Middle East, Central Asia and Africa, Tata Communications.

“This will help simplify the digital experience for our customers and aid them in transforming their businesses in the new normal.”

Tata Communications owns and operates a vast global subsea network. This network enables businesses to reach more than 200 countries and territories, according to the company. Today, around 30 per cent of the world’s internet routes travel over Tata Communications’ network, it added.

This announcement is the latest in Tata Communications’ expanding network in the Middle East. In September 2018, the company unveiled a cybersecurity response centre in Dubai. The centre provides round the clock cybersecurity monitoring and response services across the Middle East region.

Saudi Arabia has put technology at the heart of its transformative Vision 2030 as a key enabler and driver of the numerous changes detailed in the initiative. To achieve these outcomes, telecommunication providers will need to provide a state of the art and resilient communications infrastructure, while enterprises and SMEs will need to rapidly embrace digital solutions and services.