Page 46 - SAMENA Trends - October 2021

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Saudi Arabia Expands Digital Infrastructure Plan

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications e-sports tournament organizers, online goals for the Kingdom. Such data centers
and Information Technology has broadcasters, content service operators are also a core component of enabling
announced four new cooperative initiatives and other digital platforms localize their the 4th Industrial Revolution usage cases,
to build and develop hyperscale data services in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom is and contribute to increasing local content
centers across the Kingdom. The move rapidly progressing towards consolidating across the ICT sector at the highest
aims to leverage environmentally friendly its position as a leading digital hub in standards. Quantum Switch Tamasuk CEO
and renewable energy generation projects the region by partnering with companies and Managing Director Mathew Nathan,
currently underway across the country, that can accelerate the pace of economic said: We are proud of our partnership
reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The growth and ensure readiness to digitally with the Ministry of Communications and
announcement comes as an extension of empower this ambitious nation. Information Technology on hyperscale
the Ministry’s Saudi Vision 2030 multi- Abdulsalam M Al Mutlaq, Chairman of data centers, and are ready to support the
phase plan to transform the Kingdom Alfanar Group, said: Our group, building Ministry’s digital transformation drive in
from a factor-based to innovation-driven on its international expertise in advanced the Kingdom with our financial position
digital economy. This transformation is renewable technologies, manufacturing and expertise. The government of Saudi
facilitated by the buildout and development and integration of digital solutions and Arabia has made great efforts to stimulate
of hyperscale data centers needed to digital infrastructure projects, is keen to the development of the country’s digital
accelerate digital transformation, increase deliver on the initiative of the collaboration infrastructure and enhance its role in
the adoption of emerging technologies, with the Ministry that will transform the connecting the globe. The government
boost technology and digital investments Kingdom into a leading cloud services launched a nationwide initiative to connect
and drive the emergence of Saudi Arabia hub. Abdulaziz Jazzar, Managing Director 3.5 million households via fiber to the
as a leading cloud services hub. The of Malaz Capital, which is backing Orjwan home (FTTH), covered 70% of the rural
Ministry worked closely with a group Consulting Group, said: Hyperscale data households in remote areas with wireless
of local and international companies to centers are at the heart of the Kingdom’s broadband networks, covered more than
structure the right business principles ambitious digital transformation plan to 74 cities with 5G technology and launched
for the buildout and operation, in line increase the welfare of people and the the first neutral Internet Exchange Point in
with the ambition of this multi-phased prosperity of our nation. Dawiyat Integrated Saudi Arabia (SAIX). The Kingdom is home
plan to accelerate the development of Telecommunications and Information to three of the largest telecom operators
hyperscale data centers. The estimated Technology Company CEO, Ahmad Sindi, in the region and is the largest ICT and
capacity will be 1300 Megawatts and will said: Hyperscale data centers are one of emerging technology market in the Mena
leverage sustainable renewable energy the important components of enabling region with a value exceeding $35 billion
generation and an expected investment of Saudi Vision 2030’s digital transformation as of 2020.
around $18 Billion. The four new initiatives
structured in cooperation with Malaz
Financial Company, Dawiyat Integrated
Telecommunications and Information
Technology Company, Quantum Switch
Tamasuk and Alfanar Group, and follow
an earlier announcement made by the
Ministry and bring the total number
of companies adopting the business
principles up to seven. Deputy Minister
for Infrastructure Bassam Al Bassam
said: Today, we drive the buildout and
development of hyperscale centers needed
to increase the adoption and maturity
of cloud services. This is a foundational
component for digital services, and
enables video game publishers,

46 OCTOBER 2021