This document provides an overview of a presentation given to the State Secretary of Hungary's Ministry of National Development. The presentation covered general information about Saudi Arabia, ICT sector reforms, the National Communications and Information Technology Plan (NCITP), e-government initiatives, and the National Center for Digital Certification. It included details on Saudi Arabia's administrative divisions, population distribution, the NCITP's goals and methodology, key ICT sector projects and national initiatives to expand digital inclusion.

1. Presentation to
HE Mr. Vilmos Vályi-Nagy
State Secretary, Ministry of National Development of Hungary
and the accompanying delegation
April 23, 2013

3. Contents :-
1. General Information on The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2. ICT Sector Reform.
3. National Communications and Information Technology Plan
(NCITP).
4. e-Government in K.S.A
5. National Center for Digital Certification.
6. Questions and Answers.

4. General Information on The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Location:
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lies at the
furthermost part of southwestern Asia. It is
bordered by the Arabian Gulf, United Arab
Emirates and Qatar in the east; Red Sea in
the west; Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan in the
north; Yemen and Oman in the south.
Area:
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia occupies about
four-fifths of the Arab Peninsula, with a total
area of around 2,000,000 square kilometers.
The Administrative
Division of the Kingdom
Kingdom has been divided into (13)
administrative regions. Each one of them is
divided into a number of governorates
differentiating in number from one region to
another. And each governorate is divided
into centers linked administratively to the
governorate itself or the emirate. The
emirate, governorate or center includes a
number of population settlements linked
administratively to it...

5. Population Distribution By gender
Administrative Area Total Females Males
1- Al-Riyadh 6.777.146 2.793.788 3.983.358
2- Makkah Al-Mokarramah 6.915.006 3.000.781 3.914.225
3- Al-Madinah Al-Monawarah 1.777.933 792.399 985.534
4- Al-Qaseem 1.215.858 521.965 693.893
5- Eastern Region 4.105.780 1.682.111 2.423.669
6- Aseer 1.913.392 875.108 1.038.284
7- Tabouk 791.535 352.994 438.541
8- Hail 597.144 270.678 326.466
9- Northern Borders 320.524 146.352 174.172
10- Jazan 1.365.110 628.222 736.888
11- Najran 505.652 227.336 278.316
12- Al-Baha 411.888 193.697 218.191
13- Al-Jouf 440.009 191.399 248.610
Total 27.136.977 11.676.830 15.460.147
(CDSI) Central Department of Statistics & Information

6. Saudi Council of Ministers
Prime Minister
Deputies of the Prime
minister
MMininisistteerrss MMininisistteerrss
Ministers
MMininisistteerrss MMininisistteerrss MMininisistteerrss

7. ICT Sector Reform in Saudi Arabia: Timeline (1)
2nd Mobile License
-2 Data Comma.
License
–Spectrum Usage fee
-Communications
Commission (SCC)
-Launching Telecom Act
– Saudi Telecom Comp.
started operation
The initial Launching
of Mobile by the
Ministry
Establishment of
P.T.T general
Directorate and
then (ministry of
transportation)
1926 1974 1995 1998 2001 2003 2004
Establishing Ministry
of ICT
Established- SCC
became CITC (IT
added to mandate
-VAST Liberalized
-30% of STC
-Beginning of ICT
liberalization and
Privatization.
- Established of
Saudi Telephone
Company
-Establishment of
Ministry of Post,
Telegraph and
Telephone.
-The progress of
services

8. ICT Sector Reform in Saudi Arabia: Timeline (2)
- IPO for the
Integrated Telecom
Co.
-End of 2011 2nd
executive plan for
eGov ”yesser”
-the certificate of the
main center for
digital certification
RootCA.
and the government
centers
ATheeb launches
fixed services
3rd Mobile license
issued (Zain)
– NITCP
-E-Transaction Act
- – E-crime Act
,Frequency Spectrum's
plan issued
Establishing eGov.
program "yesser“
– 2ND Mobile
Provider launches
services
–EasyNet &
-WTO Membership
-Bidding for the
licenses of the Mobile
Virtual Networks
-Second session of
Saudi e-government
achievement Award
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Execution of
regulations of e-government
transactions
-Second fixed licenses
approved Atheeb+
–National Spectrum
Plan
- Issuance of e-transactions
implementations
procedures
ICT sector's policy
issued
-End of the firs five-year
National
Communication and
Information
Technology Plan &
Preparation for 2nd
five-year Plan

9. ICT sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Telecom sector
structuring in
the Kingdom
ICT Services
providers
(CITC) MCIT
Regulations, Policies, Plans,
International relations
Telecom Policy
National Communications Plan
e-Gov. Program
Executive plan
Regulator, licensing,
services quality control
About 400 licenses
Managing the spectrum
Managing the internet
CERT
Etc. …
Providing ICT services
Fixed communications
Mobile communications
Satellites
Internet
Data
Etc. …

10. National Communications
and Information Technology
Plan
(NCITP)

11. The Beginning
11
The NCITP has been prepared through direct
participation of a group of specialists belonging to
various governmental, academic and private sectors.
Reviewed by all related agencies, including government
sectors representatives, private sector representatives
plus a group of independent experts and specialists.

12. The NCITP Methodology
12
Long-term Vision
Future Vision
General Objectives
Five-year Plan
Specific Objectives
Execution Policies
Projects
Studies
International
Experiences
Current Status
Modern Technology
& Future Trends
Principles & Foundations Development Plans Science & Tech. Policy
Long-term Economical
Vision
Components & Methodology
Gap Analysis
Workshops
SWOT Analysis
Gap Analysis
Workshops
SWOT Analysis

13. 13
 Information Society  Solid Information Industry  Digital Economy
underlying
Infrastructure
Bridging
digital
divide
Optimal
Utilization of
ICT
Developing ICT
Industries
The Future Vision and its Major Components
Preparing
manpower

14. The NCITP Vision
14
Transformation into an information society
and digital economy to increase productivity
and provide Communication and IT services for
all sectors of society in all parts of the country
and build a solid information industry that
becomes a major source of income.

15. NCITP
15
NCITP is composed of the two components:
A long-term perspective for ICT in the Kingdom.
(7 General Objectives)
The first five-year plan for ICT in the Kingdom.
(26 specific objectives)
(98 projects)

16. General Objectives
16
To realize the long-term vision, seven general
objectives have been formulated:
1) Services and productivity.
2) Sector regulation.
3) Information industries, innovation and development.
4) Education and training.
5) The digital divide
6) Islam, (Al WATAN), Arabic language.
7) Development of human resources and preparation of manpower.

17. The Percentage of Achieved Goals and Plan (Until the end of the fourth year - 2011)
100.00%
80.00%
60.00%
40.00%
20.00%
0.00%
1th 2th 3th 4th 5th 6th 7th
Year Main Target 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Total
2010
Percentage of Target Achievement 57.66% 84.55% 71.82% 53.44% 42.86% 49.17% 33.46%
Percentage of Main Target 18.24% 18.98% 8.06% 4.36% 3.06% 3.01% 4.44% 60.15%
2011
Percentage of Target Achievement 70.24% 86.59% 84.55% 70.63% 55.71% 56.67% 49.62%
Percentage of Main Target 22.22% 19.44% 9.49% 5.77% 3.98% 3.47% 6.58% 70.94%

18. The Second Five-5 year Plan

19. Studies & Analysis Workshops
Strategic Reference Study Stakeholders Needs Analysis
Current Status Analysis Study
International Experiences Study
SWOT Analysis Workshop
PEST Analysis Workshop
Vision, Mission Workshop
Strategy Map Workshop
Balanced Scorecards Workshop
Projects Portfolio Workshop
Projects Charters Workshop
Study relationship between 2nd national plan and all other
related national strategies and plans (about 16 plans),such
as:
• 9th national development plan
• National industrial plan
• E-Government 5 years strategy
• E-Health 20 years strategy
• National policy for science and technology
• Educational institutions plans and policies
• Identified all current achievements from 1st plan.
• Identified current projects and programs to fill the gap.
• Lessons learned from 1st plan.
Studied 5 countries: Malaysia, Singapore, Germany,
Qatar, and Chile seeking best practices and lessons
learned.
Identified government and non-government
needs and thoughts of the 2nd plan:
• 10 workshops, 9 sectors.
• 154 government dept. and company.
• 414 participants.
Upcoming Workshops
The NCITP 2 Methodology

20. National Initiatives
and Projects

21. The MCIT National Initiatives and Projects
21
E-training caravans.
Lectures on dissemination of culture and knowledge.
Digital Excellence Award.
Saudi e-Government Program (Yesser)
National Center for Digital Certification.

22. 22
Digital Excellence Award
The Digital Excellence Award (eaward.sa) aims at supporting
Arabic talents in the field of Arabic web content development
and design. It looks after technological and intellectual
creativity.
Accordingly, MCIT in compliance with NCITP, has launched
the ‘Digital Excellence Award’ in 2005, which focuses
particularly on the quality of Arabic web content in various
branches.
It uses a scientific, announced evaluation criteria.
During this period more than 800 websites have competed
to gain the award.

23. 23
E-training Caravans:

24. 24
E-training Caravans:
Initiative Objectives
Computer and internet literacy focusing on rural areas and low-income people and provide
free basic training on the use of communications and information technology for individuals
in all regions, through the following means:
Introducing the importance of telecommunications and information technology to society among
targeted groups.
Identifying multiple uses of communications and information technology.
Conducting training for the targeted groups to equip them with basic skills on the use of computers
and internet.
Provide appropriate training environment to learn the basic skills on use of computers to people in the
areas where large institutes and training centers are not available.
Facilitating access to government and commercial services by introducing government and
commercial electronic services projects in the kingdom.
Encouraging people in rural areas and villages to learn the use of computers and the internet, by
giving them basic skills in this area.

25. 25
E-training Caravans: up to Feb 2013
Courses 858 226 caravans
School student
7,860
adults
4,843
12,703
Total number of trainees

26. 26
Dissemination Of Digital Culture And Knowledge
Lectures
Initiative Objectives
Promote the importance of use of telecommunications and information technology
to community members (in all different categories and levels of education), with
focus on youth, and raise awareness in this area.
Targeted Segments
1- School students (secondary).
2- Commons segments (visitors of local festivals, exhibitions and a variety
of symposia and conferences, and sports clubs visitors).

27. 27
Dissemination Of Digital Culture And
Knowledge Lectures in Numbers
(First Phase)
2011
Students trained
(50915)
Commons trained
(1383)
Total
52,298
(Second Phase)
2012
Students trained
(62561)
Commons trained
(932)
Total
63,493
(Third Phase)
Up to MAR 2013
Students trained
(54000)
Commons trained
(3954)
Total
57,954

28. e-Government
in K.S.A

29. Saudi E-Government Program (Yesser)
• Unified Vision and Action Plan
• Shared Infrastructure
Guiding Principles:
• Created in 2005
• First 5-years Action Plan in 2006
• Coordinated Decentralized Approach • Common Standards and Practices

30. First Action Plan for Saudi
e-Government 2006–2010
Ambitious vision as a catalyst for e-government
initiative with clear and specific goals to guide
implementation and follow-up
Provide common applications for improving the
effectiveness and efficiency of government.
Provide a refined level of government services
for individuals, businesses and government
Build infrastructure with high reliability (data +
technical) to provide state-of-the-art services
Establish enabling programs to facilitate e-government
advancement in effective and needed
ways

31. Infrastructure
e-Government Data Center
Government Secure Network (GSN)
97Total number of agencies are currently
linked to the Secure Network GSN
Government Service Bus (GSB)
18 Million Electronic Transactions

32. Infrastructure
1300
SAUDI e-Government National Portal
e-Services
146
Gov. Agency Providers
477
Acts & Bylaws
Single Sign-on SSO
The Single sign-on (SSO) for Enterprises and individuals is
considered one of the significant regulations of
implementing the e-Government transactions issued within
the Cabinet's resolution.
39
Offices
105
Employees
45,000
Establishments

33. Change Management
Capacity Building and Skills
Development in Government
Basic skills in First Track Computer Applications and eGovernment
Second Track Chief Information Officer Program (CIO)
Third Track Executive Education for Leaders
Specialized Certifications in ICT
Fourth Track
Fifth Track Future Experts Program

34. Change Management
Saudi E-Government Achievement Award
Designed to “inspire and reward change”
Public involvement
Effective “lever of change”
Advertising Campaigns & Publications

35. Indicators of Transformation
Measuring Transformation of e-Government
Distinct Achievement
Good Achievement
Modest Achievement
Form not received
Levels of achievement Building Stage, 95
governmental entities
Levels of achievement Availability Stage,
95 governmental entities
Customers’ satisfaction survey results on e-Government customer
satisfaction indicators in Saudi Arabia
Sample G-B )500) G-C )5000)
Male & Females Citizens and
Residents between 18 - 80 years old
Coverage

36. Indicators of Transformation
Publications
2012 2012
E-Government Survey 2012
(E-Government for the People)
2011
Global Information
Technology Report (GITR)
2010

37. Indicators of Transformation
Continued Progress in
41 UN Survey
The Kingdom ranked 41st out of
193 UN member countries :
12th – Online Service Index
9th – e-Participation
E-Government
development
index (Rank)
(193countries)
Online service
index(Rank)
(193countries)
E-participation
index(Rank)
(193 countries)
Emerging leaders
in e-Government
development
(Top 25 countries)
E-Government
leaders in Asia
(Top 10 countries)
Whole of
government top
performers
(41 countries)
41
From
193
12
From
193
9
From
193
21
From
25
KSA KSA

38. Second Action Plan: Maturing of Strategies and Actions 2012 - 2016
The Vision
“Enabling everyone to use effective
government services, in a secure
integrated and easy way, through
multiple electronic channels”

39. Second Strategy and Action Plan
2012-2016

40. Second Strategy and Action Plan
2012-2016

42. National Center for Digital
Certification (NCDC)

43. PKI Usage
 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a technology that allows for the
issuance and management of digital certificates.
 PKI helps organizations to fulfill security needs such as integrity,
authentication, confidentiality and non-repudiation.
 PKI is a key technology to help organizations implement secure e-
Services.
Public Certificate USB Token/Smart Card
Use private key to:
1. Decrypt messages sent to you.
2. Sign documents.
Use public key to:
1. Encrypt messages to certificate owner.
2. Verify signature of certificate owner.
43

44. Saudi National PKI hierarchy
The Saudi National PKI hierarchy is comprised of two (2) tiers and three components. The first tier comprises the Saudi
National Root-CA component and the second tier comprises the CAs and the CSPs components. The role of each one of
these three (3) components is the following:
Saudi National Root-CA (RCA): The Saudi National Root-CA acts as the
trust anchor for the entire Saudi National PKI. The role of the root-CA is to
sign intermediate CA certificates as well as the Authority Revocation List
(ARL). This is in addition to mutual recognition with international CA’s
which will happen at the level of the root-CA.
Certification Authorities (CA): The Saudi National
PKI will issue certificates for public and private sectors
from two (2) different Certification Authorities: the
Government CA (GCA) and the Commercial CA (CCA).
Certification Service Providers (CSP): CSP’s
role is not limited to the Registration process of the
end users, which includes validating end user identity
and approving certificate applications. The CSP’s role
also involves policy administration, which allows
them to request some certificate policy changes from
NCDC in order to address specific business needs.
44

45. Saudi PKI Features
Different types of certificates (authentication, signing, and encryption)
are provided.
CSPs issue certificates to all subscriber types (persons, entities, devices,
web servers), as per their policies.
Users may get certificates from more than one CSP.
Smartcards and tokens are supported.
Client-side software instantly verifies status of certificates.
Key lengths are 2048 bits for End Users and CA’s, 4096 bits for root CA.
Now in final stage before acquiring international recognition of Saudi PKI
certificates, through Microsoft Root CA program.

46. PKI Status
Operational since march 2009.
Root CA and Government CA are used for certifying user certificates.
E-mail certificates have been used for signing and encryption of email
messages and files among users, with some SSL certificates issued to different
organizations.
With PKI certificates, we get rid of userid’s and passwords, gain fast and more
secure access to online resources, and be able to perform important functions
like digital signing.
In order to enhance PKI service, NCDC is currently working on a project to
provide centralized authentication, time stamping, online signature and
verification, and long-term archiving.
Local signing tools have been developed to allow for signing government
documents, such as payment orders.

47. 47
Thank You for Listening
We are ready for Q&A