In a newly completed large shopping center in Riyadh, afternoon crowds slowly flow under the dome. Tourists hold their mobile phones for live streaming, young people queue up to scan codes and place orders, merchants use tablets to process orders, and the signal bars on the screen are almost unnoticed. Just as air is only remembered in its absence, indoor networks are no exception - and they are becoming the invisible new foundation of Saudi Arabia's digital society.

On September 10, 2026, Riyadh time, during the LEAP 2026 technology event in Saudi Arabia, Saudi telecom tower company TAWAL and HUAWEI officially signed a cooperation agreement for Interior Building Solutions (IBS). Both parties will deepen cooperation around product development, market expansion, and solution delivery, and jointly explore a new indoor network construction model.

Policy opens up new space

With the rapid growth of new cities and large commercial complexes in Saudi Arabia, indoor scenes have become the core area for data traffic consumption and service experience, directly affecting the competitiveness and development of the digital society. To solve the problem of indoor network construction, the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) has issued the "Regulations on the Establishment and Provision of Telecommunications Services in Real Estate", providing clear policy guidance for IBS network construction. As a key driver of digital transformation under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, TAWAL has been deeply involved in local operations for many years. This partnership with HUAWEI is aimed at providing high-quality indoor network deployment services for large, medium, and small indoor scenarios under the new policy background.

Collaborative construction throughout the entire process

According to the agreement, both parties will jointly develop and promote indoor network solutions and standards that meet the requirements of Saudi Arabia's digital economy development, based on HUAWEI's leading digital indoor solution technology advantages and TAWAL's deep local operational experience. Collaboration covers the entire process from market exploration, bidding, scheme guidance to delivery, creating a new indoor network construction model. Through resource sharing and collaborative delivery mechanisms, both parties will significantly improve market expansion and deployment efficiency, accelerating the realization of indoor commercial value.

Deeply cultivate innovation in small base stations

Small Cell, a compact wireless access solution, supports this mode. It is designed specifically for indoor and localized hotspot scenarios, achieving high-quality connectivity through more precise and intelligent network deployment, supporting both single operator deployment and multi operator co construction and sharing. HUAWE is driving Small Cell innovation in three major areas: intelligent infrastructure, intelligent connectivity, and intelligent operations, while providing industry-leading performance, deployment efficiency, and energy efficiency. With the support of the HUAWEIIBS R&D team, HUAWEI will continue to assist TAWAL in building innovation capabilities and brand influence in the Saudi IBS market.

TAWAL CEO Mohammed Al Hakbani stated that this collaboration reflects the ongoing partnership between TAWAL and HUAWEI, as well as the joint commitment of both parties to promote the construction of digital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. By working together to improve the quality and reliability of indoor connectivity, both parties hope to support Saudi Arabia's ongoing digital transformation and respond to the growing connectivity needs of businesses, communities, and digital services. Trevor Liu, CEO of HUAWEI Saudi Arabia, stated that HUAWEI highly values the strategic IBS partnership established between the two sides over the past two years. This joint agreement has propelled both parties onto a new journey and further consolidated their strategic relationship. TAWAL's Chief Operating Officer and Dr. Philip Song, President of HUAWEI's Small Base Station Product Line, attended and witnessed the signing.

From a single signal in a shopping mall to a digital base in a country, this signing points to the future of indoor digital networks in Saudi Arabia.Editor/Yang Meiling