Well-informed sources revealed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has tasked the deputy defence ministry Khaled Biyari with overseeing the construction of a mission-critical communications network for the country's defence institutions.
The new move will sideline Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Military Industries, which was formed in 2017.
Hand-in-hand with Saudi Telecom Co (STC), the lead company on the project – which he headed in 2015-2018 and remains on the board of – Biyari, the assistant minister of defence for executive affairs, will oversee the construction of a mission-critical communications network for Saudi Arabia's various security bodies.
This highly strategic project aims at improving interoperability between the General Intelligence Presidency (GIP), the defence and interior ministers, the Royal Guard and the Presidency of State Security.
The sources pinted out that the Chinese giant Huawei has been going all out to prove that its rivals Nokia and Ericsson cannot offer the same levels of security as it can, while other companies are vying to supply the mobile devices that will be used by STC (IO, 07/03/23).
From 1995 to 2013, he was vice-president of Advanced Electronics Company (AEC), overseeing its successful development as an offset partner to the point that it was regarded in the kingdom as “Saudi Arabia's Thales.”
In 2013, Biyari was sent to turn STC into the government's new technology champion through the development of subsidiaries such as its cyber arm, sirar by stc.
The sources further added that the network will be dedicated to eavesdropping on dissidents at home and abroad, saying that MBS is fearing a military coup after the defection of a number of military officers as many of them are still loyal to Prince Muhammad bin Nayef.
Saudi Arabia's efforts to develop its cyber capacities are starting to bear fruit, just as domestic business opportunities are starting to dry up for its neighbour and rival, the United Arab Emirates.
According to media report, the kingdom, which is determined to play a regional role, is using soft and hard power to boost its efforts to attract the latest technology.
To challenge Dubai's GISEC cybersecurity trade fair, Saudi Arabia now has its new Black Hat (formerly @Hack) event, a regional version of the big American cybersecurity event.
The reports said that Riyadh uses Spire Solutions deal to attract fresh cyber education capacity.
In a similar vein, others, like American intelligence company Intel 471 (IO, 24/11/22), have decided to give priority to the Saudi market.
