CST, SASO Set January 1, 2025 Deadline for First Mandatory Phase of the Unified Charging Ports in Saudi Arabia

The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) have announced that the first mandatory phase of unified charging ports for mobile phones and electronic devices in the Saudi market will take effect on January 1, 2025, requiring "USB Type-C" ports. CST and SASO stated that the decision to unify charging ports aims to enhance the user experience in Saudi Arabia, lower costs for consumers, provide high-quality charging and data transfer technology, and improve the quality of tech products. Additionally, it supports environmental sustainability and contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by reducing electronic waste. The organizations indicated that the decision will decrease local consumption of charging ports for mobile phones and electronic devices by more than 2.2 million units annually. It is also expected to cut consumer spending in Saudi Arabia by over 170 million Saudi Riyals each year, thereby support ing the Kingdom's sustainability objectives in the tech sector by reducing electronic waste by nearly 15 tons annually. The first phase will cover mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, e-readers, portable video game consoles, headphones, earphones, portable speakers, amplified speakers, keyboards, computer mice, as well as portable navigation systems and wireless routers. The second phase will begin on April 1, 2026, and will include laptops. On August 6, 2023, CST and SASO announced the phases for implementing unified charging ports in the Saudi market, requiring companies and suppliers to adopt "USB Type-C" as the standard charging port type in line with technical and administrative guidelines outlined in the relevant technical regulations and standard specifications. Source: Saudi Press Agency