King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, the founder of Saudi Arabia, demonstrated exceptional foresight and a commitment to development by embracing the newest communication technologies of his time.
He recognized the pivotal role communication has in unifying his vast nation and building a modern state. This foresight and strategic vision underscore his genius, leadership qualities, and wise governance.
King Abdulaziz leveraged means of communication to serve citizens all over the Kingdom with its vast geography and diverse terrain. He exerted great efforts to unify the nation and foster security and stability.
Communications played a crucial role in providing education and healthcare services, disseminating knowledge and culture, facilitating communication between citizens and the government, and addressing the challenges faced by the people.
The King’s communication strategy paved the way for significant developmental projects, societal transformation, and improved living standards for citizens. Commu
nications also modernized the economic, political, and social aspects of life in the Arabian Peninsula.
This report by the Saudi Press Agency delves into the history of wireless communication in Saudi Arabia, which laid the foundation for the Kingdom’s advanced telecommunications and information technology infrastructure of today.
In his book “A Historical Study of the Role of Wireless Communication in the Era of King Abdulaziz,” Dr. Ali Al Najai revealed that the King pioneered the development of wireless communication in the Hijaz region. After entering the Hijaz in 1925, he established the first extensive wireless network. Multiple radio stations were installed across the Kingdom, connected to a portable wireless device named the royal bag, facilitating communication with citizens and regional governors. This royal bag, a constant companion of the King, facilitated the sending and receiving of telegrams wherever he traveled.
The King expanded the network to 28 stations, comprising 22 fixed stations and
six mobile units, representing a fourfold increase over seven years. These stations were located in cities like Yanbu, Tabuk, Madinah, Hail, Al-Wajh, AlUla, Jizan, Jeddah, Buraidah, Al-Jouf, Abha, Taif, Al-Ahsa, Jubail, Qatif, Rabigh, and Al-Quraiyat. Additionally, two major wireless communication stations, each with a capacity of five kilowatts, were established in Makkah and Riyadh, facilitating seamless communication with foreign nations.
King Abdulaziz oversaw state matters and kept abreast of Kingdom-wide developments by sending and receiving telegrams via the wireless network twice every day.
Utilizing wireless communication to organize the governance of the nation and citizens’ affairs, as indicated by national records, streamlined the dissemination of orders and directives to regional governors. This aided in safeguarding the borders shared with neighboring nations, transmitting royal decrees, issuing decisions, enhancing services for pilgrims, overseeing and coordinating their affairs, tackling cri
minal activities, ensuring citizens’ safety, and fulfilling social requirements like monitoring the well-being of herders, livestock, and animals during cold spells.
The telegrams encompassed directives to uphold public safety and health, combat locust infestations to safeguard crops, manage citizen travel, oversee labor recruitment and rights, supervise air traffic and regulate the Kingdom’s airspace, and handle emergencies like rain, floods and fires, to ensure public safety during perilous situations.
Decisions communicated via telegrams included regulating economic and financial affairs, imports and exports, to protect consumers and oversee merchandise.
Aware of the importance of wireless communication at the time, young people started educating themselves on radio technology. Its utilization strengthened social ties among citizens, improved their livelihoods, and facilitated connections with families nationwide, particularly during Ramadan and holidays.
Regions along the Trans-Arabian Pipeline (Tapli
ne) in northern Saudi Arabia reaped the benefits of the established network post-pipeline development, alongside employees of foreign oil exploration companies and port and maritime zones.
The Kingdom persisted in advancing its communication infrastructure. Following the conclusion of World War II, in 1945, outdated devices were replaced with newer, advanced models, and the number of stations surged to 125. The integrated wireless communication system was inaugurated in late 1368 AH with the official launch of the Saudi Arabian Radio in Makkah.
To bolster commercial activities, the King decreed that citizens could send telegrams free of charge, while merchants enjoyed reduced rates.
To complement King Abdulaziz’s endeavors to create institutions, telegraph, postal, and telephone centers were established during his reign.
A notable advancement in communication during that time was the introduction, by Royal Decree in 1349 AH, of the automatic telephone service nationwide. The service was recognized for its
speed, accuracy, and consistent reliability. In 1351 AH, a central telephone center was established, facilitating the first phone call, lasting 20 minutes, between King Abdulaziz in Makkah and Crown Prince Saud in Riyadh. It marked a successful milestone in communication progress.
In 1358 AH, the government procured 12 wireless telephone units for operation in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and other regions in the Kingdom. Following successful trials, the decision was made to establish two additional stations in Taif and Riyadh.
To empower Saudi citizens and foster the transfer of knowledge in the field of radio, King Abdulaziz initiated the dispatch of the first group of Saudis to London for radio studies. In 1354 AH, a school was established to prepare students for overseas education. Subsequent delegations were dispatched to Egypt and the US for studies in automatic telephone engineering and telephony, respectively.
Plans for an automatic telephone system in Jeddah were approved in 1370 AH, with a 1373 AH Ro
yal Decree establishing a school for automatic telephony training, offering attractive salaries to trainees. This effort yielded proficient professionals crucial to government functions and foreign embassies.
The advancements unfolding now in Saudi Arabia’s communication sector, and in technology at large, are a direct legacy of King Abdulaziz’s groundwork. They confirm his forward-thinking vision, his embrace of science and knowledge, and his commitment to leveraging all avenues for the nation’s advancement.
This dedication to progress, furthered by his successors, notably under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has elevated the Kingdom to a prominent status. The trajectory of the Kingdom reflects the considerable developmental strides it made in recent decades.
Saudi Arabia has attained digital eminence, securing the second position globally in key
technical indicators, as outlined in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook report. The Kingdom excelled by ranking second worldwide in the digital transformation index for businesses, technology development and application index, and technical development financing index. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia claimed the top spot globally for the number of internet users, and ranked fourth globally in supporting public-private partnerships for technological advancement.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia is one of the leading nations formulating a national AI strategy, as highlighted in the Stanford University AI Index Report 2024, which serves as a comprehensive reference for policymakers, researchers, and industry experts to grasp the current AI landscape and future trends.
These technological feats are a testament to the supportive, empowering, and visionary leadership that has elevated the Kingdom’s digital prominence. The sector’s consistent development and remarkable growth have solidified its position as a pivotal reso
urce supporting economic and developmental ventures throughout Saudi Arabia.
Source: Saudi Press Agency