Page 20 - SAMENA Trends - Jan-Mar 2024

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

e& Expands SmartHub Data Center Network to Abu Dhabi, Enhancing Digital

Infrastructure and Connectivity

e& Carrier & Wholesale announced the expansion of its Tier III
SmartHub data center to the UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi, providing
state-of-the-art infrastructure and connectivity to support the
entire region’s digital ecosystem. The strategic expansion further
solidifies e&'s global network enhancing its ability to serve
businesses across various industry verticals. The upcoming data
center in Abu Dhabi will be the fifth Tier III data center alongside the
existing ones in Fujairah 1 and 2, Dubai, and Kalba. With the new
SmartHub location in Abu Dhabi it accelerates digital adoption in the
country offering geo-redundancy and added value for customers
with low latency and high-speed internet. Nabil Baccouche, e&
Group Chief Carrier & Wholesale Officer commenting on the launch,
said: “Our footprint expansion is aligned with e&’s long term vision
of creating a digitally empowered world through innovation and community.” The new Abu Dhabi facility is Uptime Institute Tier III
digitization. With the United Arab Emirates today playing a key role Certified, complying with the highest industry standards of data
in the global economy, we are committed to delivering world-class centre performance and availability with an ESTIDAMA Pearl rating
connectivity solutions, facilitating global trade and investment. of 4 for sustainable design, construction, and operation, as well as
The hi-tech infrastructure and strategic location of Abu Dhabi a USGBC LEED Gold certification, adhering to strict environmental
will be a valuable asset to our customers and the wider business standards.

e& and Huawei Sign a Strategic MoU to Build Green and Energy Efficient
Networks

e& and Huawei signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) transport networks, and data centers. The effort to decarbonize
during MWC 2024 to collaborate on building green and energy-ef- the network will adopt a mix of Huawei’s energy-efficient tech-
ficient networks in the UAE to significantly reduce carbon emis- nology innovations and intelligent software features, as well as
sions and contribute to sustainable environmental practices. e& maximizing the use of renewable energy. The companies will also
will continue to work with Huawei to achieve network decarbon- collaborate in hosting a series of knowledge-sharing sessions to
ization across its ICT infrastructure, including radio, core and exchange insights on climate change and the latest technological
advancements and adapt and align network strategies according-
ly. In a pioneering move, e& launched its region’s first net-zero 5G
Massive MIMO site using Huawei technology during COP 28 in De-
cember 2023, showcasing a tangible commitment to eco-friendly
technology deployment. The partnership is part of e&’s ambition
to accelerate the transition to net-zero and underlines the impor-
tance of improving network energy performance to meet Net Zero
targets. Sabri Albreiki, Chief Technology Officer of e& Internation-
al, remarked, "Through our strategic partnership with Huawei, we
aim to accelerate the decarbonization of our ICT infrastructure by
deploying their energy-efficient network equipment combined with
energy-saving software features, advanced machine learning ca-
pabilities, and renewable energy sources. Signing this MoU with
Huawei reinforces our joint commitment to a greener, more sus-
tainable future." Echoing this sentiment, Gavin Wang, President of
Huawei e& Global Key Account, stated, " The combined efforts of
e& and Huawei exemplify a strong commitment to climate change
and sustainable technology. Through our joint initiatives and ef-
forts, we aim to revolutionize the landscape of telecommunica-
tions and set new benchmarks for green development." With an eye
on the future, both e& and Huawei reaffirm their unwavering pursuit
of green development, with ongoing investments and explorations
in sustainable projects that align with e&'s 2030 net-zero ambition.

20 JANUARY-MARCH 2024