Saudi Arabia has issued new rules governing telecommunications services in real estate, covering the establishment of telecom infrastructure and the provision of services within properties and developments. The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) issued the third version of the “Regulations for Establishing and Providing Telecommunications Services in Real Estate” in January 2025, setting out the responsibilities of real estate owners and licensed service providers. Telecommunications Services in Real Estate Regulations The regulations apply to real estate owners or their representatives and licensed telecommunications infrastructure providers. They cover services provided outside and inside buildings and facilities and require real estate owners to meet the telecommunications requirements set out in the Saudi Building Code (SBC 201). For properties of 10,000 square meters or more that are divided into multiple properties or units separated by roads, the rules include specific requirements for external telecommunications infrastructure. The owner is responsible for its design and implementation and must have the designs approved by a qualified service provider or engineering office. Telecommunications Infrastructure Requirements Under the New Rules Inside buildings and facilities, owners are required to establish the internal telecommunications infrastructure and complete it before construction works are finished. The rules cover elements including cable ducts, telecommunications rooms, network termination points, cables, and related systems. Certain buildings must also provide Indoor Building Solutions (IBS). These requirements apply to specified building classifications meeting conditions such as seven or more floors, two or more basement levels, capacity for at least 1,000 tenants, or a floor area of 3,000 square meters or more. Some specified buildings must also provide internet service through Wi-Fi technology. Responsibilities of Real Estate Owners and Service Providers The rules assign infrastructure responsibilities to real estate owners, while licensed service providers have defined roles in reviewing designs, supervising external infrastructure works, and providing telecommunications services. For external infrastructure, the relevant service provider must review designs within 15 working days of receiving them. In buildings requiring IBS, the host service provider must ensure that the system supports at least three mobile service providers and coordinates the technical requirements before implementation. Telecommunications Planning for Large-Scale Projects Additional requirements apply to large-scale projects exceeding 500,000 square meters of land area or 100,000 square meters of total building area. Owners must determine the project's initial telecommunications requirements and establish a Technical Coordination Committee that includes CST and relevant infrastructure service providers. The regulations also require owners to enable service providers to complete necessary works before a property becomes operational. Requests related to establishing or providing telecommunications services must generally be submitted at least 180 days before activation or reactivation. Impact on Saudi Real Estate Projects The rules place telecommunications infrastructure within the design, construction, and activation stages of covered real estate projects. They also define procedures for infrastructure access, service provision, design approval, and coordination between property owners and licensed providers. For developers, this means telecommunications requirements must be addressed as part of project preparation and construction, while service providers are subject to specific timelines and technical obligations under the regulations. FAQ What are telecommunications services in real estate? They are telecommunications services provided through infrastructure within real estate properties and developments. Do the regulations apply to residential developments? Yes. The regulations include specified residential building classifications and requirements for telecommunications services inside buildings. Who is responsible for establishing telecommunications infrastructure? Real estate owners are responsible for establishing the required external and internal infrastructure, while licensed service providers have defined responsibilities for reviewing, supervising, and providing services. Why must telecommunications infrastructure be planned during construction? The regulations require the necessary infrastructure and service works to be completed before the property becomes operational, subject to the requirements applicable to the project.