First: The emergency distress service for individuals:
The emergency distress service is a radiocommunication service that enables individuals to request distress in areas where public telecommunications networks are not available.
Second: Instructions for using the search and rescue device :
The emergency distress device is used only and only if emergencies occurred, within areas where public communication networks are not available. Doing so will make it much easier for the search and rescue team to identify the location of the distress caller and reach him at an appropriate time. The technical specification of the device and the information of the applicant are registered in a special form called (registration of the distress request device For individuals) The information is entered into the search and rescue service system which is conjoined with The Ministry of Interior (MOI) and The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). Hence, the accountable authorities in search and rescue can be able to identify the identity of the distress caller and locate him through the information sent from the device through the satellite to the Search and Rescue Center. Using the device in other than these cases or tampering with it confuses the competent authorities for search and rescue, leaving the owner of the device to be exposed to penalties according to the regulations in force in the Kingdom.
Third: The mechanism of the emergency distress service:
1. When the distress call button of the emergency distress device is pressed, the device sends a wireless distress signal to space at (406) MHz through satellite to the (Cospas-Sarsat) system which in turn transmits the signal which contains the coordinates of the distress caller to the Kingdom's Search and Rescue Center.
2. Referring to the emergency distress service database, the Kingdom's Search and Rescue Center can determine the identity of the distress caller.
3. The competent authorities will contact the numbers mentioned in (Registering the distress request device for individuals form) to ensure the seriousness of the distress request.
4. Once the above steps are verified, the search and rescue authorities will respond to the distress call.
Fourth: Technical specifications for distress devices:
The technical specification of distress devices with the number RI096 can be found on the communication and information technology commission (CITC) website, which is considered to be the technical basis for the approval and permission of distress devices. All individuals and suppliers of these devices shall adhere to this technical specification.
Fifth: The procedures for registering the distress device for individuals:
A. If the device is imported by the user:
1. The importer of the device shall fill in the form (registration of the distress request for individuals) and submits it to the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST), along with attaching a copy of the national identity or the residence permit.
2. The Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST), issues an invoice of (50) SAR annually, in exchange for the financial compensation of registering emergency distress devices for individuals. After that, the applicant will be informed of the payment number through the payment system (SADAD). That is in accordance with the frequency usage fee in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued by the Board of Council resolution No. (200) dated 7/7/1425 AH.
3. After completing all the required data on the form, and ensuring the emergency distress device is not registered in the database with another user. Right after paying the fee for the registration of the emergency distress device for individuals, the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) enters the information of applicant and his device as in the mention in the form (registration of the distress request device to individuals) through the search and rescue system which is conjoined with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
4. The Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) keeps a copy of the form and provides the applicant with the original form to prove that he has the official possession of the device.
B. If the device is imported by suppliers:
1. Suppliers who are licenced under its commercial registry to import, market, install and maintain telecommunications devices, including wired and wireless devices and information technology, fill in the form (Registering a Distress Request for Individuals Form). In addition, they have to complete the registration procedures in the behalf of the end users if they purchase devices from those suppliers. Then the form shall be signed and submitted to the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST).
2. Follow the steps (2-4) mentioned in Section (a) above.
Sixth: Conditions for importing and entering permission of emergency distress devices through customs:
A. For personal use by individuals:
1. The technical specification of the imported emergency distress device has to comply with the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) standard no. RI096.
2. Filling in the form of device entering permission for all the emergency distress devices reserved in customs, along with attaching all the required documentation mentioned within the form.
3. It is allowed to submit the form of device entering permission directly to the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) before the shipment arrived at the customs port. Once the data of the device matches the information in the form, by the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) informs customs to approve the shipment.
B. Suppliers:
1. Suppliers must have a commercial registry license to import, market, install and maintain telecommunications devices, including wired and wireless devices and information technology.
2. The technical specification of the imported emergency distress device has to comply with the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) standard no. RI096.
3. Filling in the form of device entering permission for all the emergency distress devices reserved in customs, along with attaching all the required documentation mentioned within the form.
4. Attaching a list of the devices which are requested to be approved, including the manufacturer, the model and the serial numbers for each one of them.
5. It is allowed to submit the form of device allowing entry directly to the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) before the shipment arrived at the customs port. Once the data of the device matches the information in the form, by the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) informs customs to approve the shipment.
Seventh: conveyance of the emergency distress device:
In case the owner of the emergency distress device wants to transfer the device and the service to another person, he is obliged to fill in the form (conveyance of the emergency distress device to individuals), submit it to the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST), and fulfil the requirements mentioned in the form. The conveyance is not valid until approved by the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST).
Eighth: Request to cancel the emergency distress service for individuals:
If the owner of the emergency distress device wants to cancel the service, he is obligated to do one of the following procedures:
1. Requesting the Communications and Information Technology Commission to cancel the registration and hand in the device to the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) to terminate it according to the procedures followed.
2. Conveyance of the device and service to another person in accordance with the procedures mentioned in article seven above.
3. Requesting the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) to cancel the registration and submit evidence that the device has been exported out of the Kingdom and the evidence document shall contain the serial number device.
Ninth: If the emergency distress device is lost:
1. If the emergency distress device is lost for any reason, the owner of the device must inform the nearest police station as well as the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) or one of its offices at the addresses defined in the license.
2. Based on the notification of losing the emergency distress device, the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) will erase the personal information related to the lost device that was entered through the search and rescue system associated with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
