RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has ranked second among the Group of Twenty (G20) countries for the second consecutive time in the 2024 ICT Development Index released by the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday.
The index monitors the digital development and progress of 170 nations in information and communication technology (ICT) services through sub-indicators divided into two axes: inclusive and effective communication.
The ICT Development Index published by the ITU measures digital development and the strength of digital infrastructure, providing transparent data and methodology in the field of technology.
Saudi Arabia is also ranked first among the G20 countries in the effective communication axis and second in the inclusive communication axis, reaffirming the continuous development of the communication and technology sector in the Kingdom.
The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) indicated that Saudi Arabia’s continuous progress in the index shows the strength of its digital infrastructure and its contribution to driving the growth and development of the digital economy, as well as attracting investments.
Saudi Arabia’s communication and technology market is the largest and fastest growing in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with an estimated worth of SR166 billion. The penetration rate of mobile subscriptions has reached 198 percent of the population, and the average monthly data consumption per capita in Saudi Arabia exceeds the global average by threefold.
