RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has secured the top global ranking in the 2026 ICT Development Index (IDI) published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), highlighting the Kingdom’s continued progress in digital connectivity and technology development.

The index measures the digital performance of 159 economies using a range of indicators grouped under two main categories: universal connectivity and meaningful connectivity.

According to the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), Saudi Arabia achieved the highest overall ranking due to its strong performance across both pillars. The commission attributed this success to the steady advancement of the Kingdom’s communications and technology sector, backed by sustained leadership support and world-class digital infrastructure.

CST said the achievement further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in digital transformation and reflects continuous improvements in telecommunications infrastructure and the regulatory environment, which have accelerated the growth of the Kingdom’s digital economy.

The commission also noted that Saudi Arabia’s communications and technology market reached SR199 billion by the end of 2025, recording a compound annual growth rate of 8 percent over the past five years. This makes it the largest and fastest-growing communications and technology market in the Middle East and North Africa.

The report also highlighted that both internet usage and mobile phone penetration reached 100 percent across the Kingdom. Meanwhile, median fixed broadband speeds increased to 151 Mbps, while median mobile internet speeds reached 216 Mbps.

According to CST, Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the ICT Development Index reflects the Kingdom’s sustained digital progress and reinforces its standing among the world’s leading digital economies.