Madinah: Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission’s (CST) Board of Directors Eng. Abdullah Alswaha announced today the success of CST’s Operational Plan for the 2024 Hajj season. He attributed this success to the unwavering support from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the direct follow-up of the HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
Alswaha emphasized that digital infrastructure and technology played a vital role in enhancing the overall Hajj experience for pilgrims, ensuring their health and safety. Modern technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) enabled governmental entities to offer reliable services, showcasing pioneering global models in serving pilgrims. AI was harnessed to manage crowds, support decision-making, facilitate virtual healthcare access, and assist with transportation decision-making through the use of drones and the Internet of
Things (IoT).
Alswaha commended the efforts of the industry’s staff in both government entities and telecom service providers, who diligently served pilgrims and facilitated their Hajj journey.
CST Governor Dr. Mohammed Altamimi noted that the unlimited support from the leadership significantly improved the network infrastructure and services at the holy sites. The total data consumption reached 65.47 thousand TB, equivalent to watching 26.82 million hours of 1080p HD video clips, with internet download speeds exceeding 341.6 Mbit/s. The total number of voice calls exceeded 337 million, with a success rate increase of 99%, attributed to the developed network infrastructure and the availability of WiFi networks.
Source: Saudi Press Agency