SASO 3114 Mandatory from 1 November 2026: SABER Certificates for Routers, Wi-Fi and ONTs Replace GEN-002
SASO 3114, published as SASO 3114:2026 “Requirements for Specific ICT Equipment”, became the basis for SABER certificates of conformity for several categories of telecom equipment on 1 November 2026, after the grace period ended on 31 October 2026. According to a notice published on the SABER platform, the new standard replaces SASO CITC GEN-002 under the Technical Regulation for Communications and Information Technology Devices. The change affects routers, Wi-Fi equipment and fiber optical network terminals (ONTs) used in network and communication systems for buildings and offices.
Key takeaways
- SASO 3114:2026 replaces SASO CITC GEN-002 under the Technical Regulation for Communications and IT Devices, per the SABER notice.
- The grace period ended on 31 October 2026. From 1 November 2026, no certificate of conformity is issued for covered products unless they meet the updated requirements.
- Certificates of conformity and shipment certificates issued under GEN-002 are discontinued no later than 31 March 2027.
- Compliance summaries list routers and customer premises equipment (CPE), ONTs and home access gateways, Wi-Fi distribution devices, mobile phones, tablets and other cellular devices.
What changes with SASO 3114?
The SABER notice states that SASO revised SASO CITC GEN-002, the standard tied to the Technical Regulation for Communications and IT Devices, and replaced it with SASO 3114:2026. It gave a grace period until 31 October 2026. From 1 November 2026, certificates of conformity for covered products are no longer issued unless the products meet the updated requirements.
CAICT’s Global Market Access service reports that SASO published the standard on 19 May 2026 and set 1 November 2026 as the mandatory date. TÜV Rheinland’s summary gives the same dates and notes that existing certificates remain valid until 31 March 2027 at the latest.
The SABER notice does not list the products itself; it points to the standard on SASO’s platform. The product list in circulation comes from the CAICT and Eleos Compliance summaries:
- Routers and customer premises equipment (CPE).
- Optical network terminals (ONT) and home access gateways (HAG).
- Wi-Fi distribution devices.
- Mobile phones, tablets, mobile computers and other cellular-enabled devices.
CAICT adds that the standard covers equipment for both operator-owned and open access networks.
What does it mean for the Saudi market?
The importer or supplier obtains the certificate of conformity, but the effect reaches contractors and owners. Any router, ONT or Wi-Fi device supplied to a project after 1 November 2026 needs a certificate issued against the new standard if it falls in a covered category. Distributor stock certified under GEN-002 is on a countdown that ends on 31 March 2027 at the latest.
This matters on projects with long delivery schedules. A consultant may approve the submittal for a device today, and the shipment may arrive after March 2027 carrying a certificate that is no longer valid. It is safer for the supply contract to require a certificate that is valid at customs clearance, not just at the time of the offer.
Not every network device is affected. Wired switches, for example, do not appear in the category lists above. The reliable way to check a model is its customs (HS) code and its classification on SABER, as explained in our article on SABER certificates of conformity for network and telecom devices.
The update comes one month after another labeling requirement took effect: the supplier’s name and CR number on the product, mandatory since 1 October 2026. Suppliers now have to review the certificate and the label together.
AZEIDK Expert Take
Before approving any router, ONT or access point for your project, ask the supplier for three things: the SABER certificate of conformity number for that exact model, the standard it was issued against (SASO 3114:2026 or GEN-002), and its expiry date. If the certificate is based on GEN-002, do not rely on it for deliveries after 31 March 2027. When designing business Wi-Fi networks, write the certificate requirement into the BOQ and technical specification so the model is not swapped later for a non-compliant alternative. When comparing network equipment brands in Saudi Arabia, compare whether the specific model holds a current certificate, not only the brand name. The AZEIDK team can review device documents under our technical selection of systems and equipment service or as part of delivering network and communication systems. Contact: the AZEIDK team.
Sources
- Standard update notice: replacement of SASO CITC GEN-002 by SASO 3114:2026, SABER platform (SASO), accessed 11 November 2026
- Saudi Arabia: SASO releases SASO 3114:2026 to replace SASO CITC GEN-002, CAICT Global Market Access, 3 August 2026
- Saudi Arabia: Replacement of CST GEN-002 by SASO 3114:2026 for Specific ICT Equipment, TÜV Rheinland, 2026
- SASO 3114:2026: Requirements for Specific ICT Equipment, Eleos Compliance, 29 July 2026
