Recent data shows a significant improvement in gaming latency rates across Saudi Arabia, reflecting developments in the digital infrastructure. According to a report by وكالة الأنباء السعودية, the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) released these findings in its fifth edition of the “Saudi Internet” report. The document highlights how response times for popular electronic games have decreased.
Improvement in Gaming Latency Rates
The CST report revealed an 89% improvement in response times for the most popular electronic games in the Kingdom. Consequently, this shift has directly contributed to enhanced service quality and performance for local players. The digital infrastructure now supports faster connectivity, which is vital for competitive gaming.
Performance Across Popular Titles
Several popular games recorded low response times, reaching 11 milliseconds for “Teamfight Tactics” and “League of Legends.” Meanwhile, “Mobile Legends” recorded a response time of 12 milliseconds. These figures indicate that local networks can handle high-speed data transmission efficiently.
Regarding gaming platforms, smart devices accounted for the largest share of usage at 22.1%. PlayStation followed closely, capturing 21.8% of the market. In terms of playing frequency, weekly gaming was the most common at 32.1%, followed by intermittent gaming at 31% and daily gaming at 29.2%.
Growth in Internet of Things Subscriptions
In addition to gaming latency rates, the report highlighted substantial growth in the smart devices and Internet of Things (IoT) sector. Specifically, the number of IoT subscriptions in the Kingdom reached 13.85 million. This expansion shows the increasing reliance on connected devices in daily life.
Furthermore, urban population coverage by Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) technology reached approximately 99%. This coverage is supported by more than 30,000 towers across the country. Notably, the adoption rate of IoT technology in homes has reached 18%.
Infrastructure Readiness and Global Rankings
These indicators reflect the readiness of the Kingdom’s digital infrastructure to accommodate growing internet usage. This includes electronic games and applications that rely on device-to-device connectivity. As a result, these developments reinforce the Kingdom’s position in the digital economy.
The report also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s international standing in the technology sector. Specifically, the Kingdom ranked first globally in the International Telecommunication Union’s 2025 Digital Readiness Index. This achievement aligns with the strategic objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
