Public Consultation: CST Proposes Updates to the National Frequency Plan of Saudi Arabia
The Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has issued a public consultation regarding a comprehensive revision of the National Frequency Plan (NFP). This update, the first major revision since 2019, aims to align the Kingdom’s spectrum management with international frameworks, specifically the outcomes of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23), and to accommodate emerging wireless technologies.
Proposed Regulatory Changes
The CST is proposing several structural and technical changes to the NFP and the National Frequency Allocation Table (NFAT):
Alignment with ITU Region 1: The NFAT is being updated to reflect the latest International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations for Region 1.
New User Categories: The CST is introducing a "user access category" column to clarify spectrum access between "Government" and "Civil" users. This includes five specific national footnotes (KSA 1 to KSA 5) defining whether bands are for exclusive civilian use, exclusive government use, or shared use under specific coordination.
NFAT Restructuring: The table will now include five distinct columns: ITU Region 1 allocations, KSA band allocations, User Category, Usage (current and future applications), and Notes (references to national regulations and international decisions).
Definition Updates: Revised definitions for primary and secondary services to clarify priority and interference protection rights.
Impact on Manufacturers and Stakeholders
The proposed changes directly affect the permitted radio bands and technical parameters for devices intended for the Saudi market:
Expanded IMT Spectrum: The CST has identified several new bands for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), including planned spectrum releases in the 1427–1517 MHz, 3800–4000 MHz, 4100–4200 MHz, and 24.25–27.5 GHz ranges.
License-Exempt and Lightly Licensed Bands: New allocations for RLAN/WLAN (including the 5925–7125 MHz band) and Short Range Devices (SRDs) across various frequencies (e.g., 57–71 GHz, 116–122 GHz, and 244–246 GHz).
V2X Technology: A planned license-exempt spectrum release in the 5855–5905 MHz band is proposed for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) applications.
Technical Footnotes: Manufacturers must adhere to specific KSA footnotes that dictate whether a device can operate in a band based on its user category (civilian vs. government).
Standardization: The usage column in the NFAT will provide clearer guidance on the specific applications (e.g., PMSE, PMR/PAMR, GNSS) permitted within allocated bands, influencing device tuning and certification requirements.
Technical and Certification Parameters
The revision of the NFP serves as the primary instrument for type approval and device certification. Manufacturers should note that the approved revision will take effect 90 days after its final approval. Future type approval applications will need to demonstrate compliance with the updated allocations and any new technical requirements referenced in the "Notes" column of the NFAT, such as those for wideband data transmission and specific SRD categories.
Deadlines for Feedback
CST invites all manufacturers, type approval service companies, and interested stakeholders to provide comments and data-driven analysis on these proposed changes.
Consultation ID: 1/1447
Deadline for Submission: February 8, 2026
Feedback should focus on the suitability of the new user categories, the inclusion of specific international footnotes, and the proposed frequency allocations for emerging services like IMT and V2X.
