The Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) has announced 2024 as a year of extraordinary success. At a press conference led by Acting Chairman Eng. Abdullah Al-Ajmi, CITRA outlined its achievements and vision for 2025, emphasizing its commitment to advancing digital infrastructure and supporting the growth of the digital economy.
Key Achievements in 2024
Record Revenues
CITRA reported revenues exceeding KWD 75 million (approximately USD 243.4 million) during the first half of the fiscal year (2024-2025), driven by stronger operational performance and higher revenue generation in areas such as landing station licenses, telecom number range licenses, and leased international connection circuits.
New Regional Corridor for Marine Communications
To address challenges in maintaining marine communication cables and ensure reliable services, CITRA launched a new regional corridor linking Kuwait to Frankfurt. This corridor serves as an integrated alternative to traditional marine routes, providing low latency and a dependable option for international service providers. It allows data traffic to be securely routed from Kuwait to Europe via Iraq.
Launch of Direct Extension Registration and 5G Technology
CITRA introduced the first phase of the direct extension registration service (kw.) in 2024. Additionally, the authority prepared for the introduction of advanced 5G technology (5GA), a key milestone in the evolution of communications networks.
Strategic Partnerships for Digital Infrastructure
In a move to strengthen Kuwait’s digital infrastructure, CITRA signed a land lease contract with Google to establish modern data centers for cloud computing services. This collaboration is expected to support digital transformation in both the public and private sectors and solidify Kuwait’s position as a regional hub for data and cloud services.
Memorandums and Infrastructure Development
CITRA signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei to further advance the ICT sector. The authority also entered into a contract with Kuwait Telecommunications Company (STC) for the lease of land to build an administrative headquarters and parking facility, enhancing public-private sector cooperation and stimulating the national economy.
Regulatory Improvements and New Services
CITRA introduced a new organizational structure to boost its efficiency in managing the communications and ICT sectors. The authority also launched the “Kashif” service, a feature that displays caller information for incoming calls, helping reduce unsolicited calls.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Al-Ajmi concluded by outlining CITRA’s vision for 2025, focusing on continued digital transformation, economic growth, and public-private partnerships, while adopting best global practices in regulating the ICT sector.
