Communication Systems in Saudi Arabia

We build Saudi production comms around the rules set by the CST (Communications, Space and Technology Commission). The CST licenses each wireless frequency used on set. That spans Lectrosonics Duet IFB feeds, Wisycom MTP60 belt packs, and the encrypted Motorola DP4801e fleets. These move across Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, and NEOM. Our team files short-term production frequency requests through CST. We file them alongside the GACA approvals needed when shoots cross AlUla airspace (RCU clearance) or the NEOM zone. We line up SIM cards through STC (Saudi Telecom Company), Mobily, or Zain. We pick the carrier with the strongest 5G reach at each site. MBC Studios in Riyadh and Jeddah, Telfaz11, and NEOM Bajdah Studios all run in-house Motorola repeater setups we can patch into. We also pull spare walkie pools from Filmquip Dubai or Picture Works Dubai. They come up the 12-hour E11 highway corridor when the unit grows past 80 handsets.

Saudi shoots live on radio. Wadjda, Kandahar, and Desert Warrior all ran multi-unit Motorola fleets. They worked through the Empty Quarter and AlUla wadis, where mobile coverage drops to nothing. Our coordinators draw coverage maps that lean on portable DR3000 repeaters. We mount them on Toyota Land Cruisers when a shoot crosses the Hisma Plateau or pushes north into Tabuk province. We brief crews on the Arabic-first radio etiquette that rules Saudi sets. Najdi and Hejazi dialect channels go to grip and lighting. English channels go to global department heads. Urdu and Filipino lanes serve the driver and rigging crews when they need direct comms. We also build the prayer-time pauses (Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha) into channel briefings. That keeps the call sheet rhythm running through the comms plan. Clear-Com FreeSpeak II and Riedel Bolero video village packages arrive prepped through MBC's broadcast division. Telos and Comrex codec links bridge back to Riyadh post houses when a remote producer needs live feeds from AlUla or NEOM.