Operational Plan For Hajj 2024: A Testament To Digital Advancement And Leadership Support

Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission's (CST) Board of Directors, announced the success of CST’s Operational Plan for the 2024 Hajj season. He credited this achievement to the unwavering support from King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the direct follow-up by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Alswaha highlighted that digital infrastructure and technology significantly enhanced the Hajj experience for pilgrims, ensuring their health and safety. Modern technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) were pivotal in offering reliable services, showcasing advanced global models in serving pilgrims. AI was utilised to manage crowds, support decision-making, facilitate virtual healthcare access, and assist with transportation through drones and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Alswaha praised the efforts of government entities and telecom service providers' staff who diligently served pilgrims during their Hajj journey. CST Governor Dr. Mohammed Altamimi noted that leadership's unlimited support significantly improved network infrastructure and services at the holy sites.

The total data consumption during the Hajj season reached 65.47 thousand TB. This is equivalent to watching 26.82 million hours of 1080p HD video clips. Internet download speeds exceeded 341.6 Mbit/s, ensuring seamless connectivity for pilgrims.

The total number of voice calls surpassed 337 million, with a success rate increase of 99%. This improvement is attributed to the developed network infrastructure and the availability of WiFi networks at the holy sites.

These advancements underscore the commitment to leveraging technology to enhance the Hajj experience, ensuring that pilgrims can perform their rituals with ease and comfort.

With inputs from SPA