SWA Hosts Workshop on Utilizing NWC Infrastructure for Fiber Optic Expansion

The Saudi Water Authority (SWA) organized the first workshop for the project titled “Utilizing the Infrastructure of the National Water Company for Fiber Optic Expansion,” held in Riyadh with the participation of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, the National Water Company (NWC), NWC’s consulting partners Oliver Wyman and Sofrecom, the Water Transmission and Technologies Company (WTTCO), telecom service providers, and other relevant entities.

The workshop addressed several key topics, including exploring opportunities to leverage water and wastewater networks to support digital infrastructure, presenting proposed business models to utilize company assets, and an open discussion with telecom providers on regulatory challenges, investment opportunities, and technical implementation mechanisms.

This workshop reflects national integration efforts across sectors and aims to enhance the efficiency of existing infrastructure in alignment with digital transformation goals and the enablement of smart connectivity. The workshop highlighted the potential to extend fiber optic coverage to more than 3 to 4 million households by 2030 by leveraging over 50 million linear meters of NWC-owned pipeline networks.

The session concluded with a series of key recommendations, including conducting initial phase testing to evaluate the feasibility of proposed models both technically and commercially, involving service providers early to share perspectives on challenges and cost structures, launching a Request for Information (RFI) by mid-July, completing the final evaluation of the initial phase by November, reviewing relevant international and local case studies, and activating institutional coordination to define operational specifications, contract frameworks, and point-of-contact locations. These steps aim to accelerate implementation and achieve the desired national impact.