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Ooredoo Group has partnered with NVIDIA to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the Qatari telecommunications giant's data centers across five Middle Eastern countries.
The agreement marks NVIDIA's first large-scale deployment in the Middle East and sets a promising precedent for the future of AI technologies in the region, making Ooredoo the first company in the region to offer direct access to NVIDIA's AI and graphics processing technology to customers in data centers in Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait and the Maldives.
Capitalizing on the significant market demand for high-speed computing and hyperconnectivity in the Middle East, the group is developing an AI-enabled platform powered by NVIDIA's full-stack innovation across systems, software and services.
Ooredoo is deploying thousands of NVIDIA Tensor Core GPUs in its AI data center to support the region and empower its customers. With advanced infrastructure, tools and software, the cutting-edge AI platform opens up a world of possibilities and ensures a future where AI is at the forefront of innovation in the Middle East.
The platform will serve as a valuable resource, supporting governments and enabling businesses and startups to securely process private data sets.
“By working with NVIDIA, we aim to meet the significantly growing demand for high-speed computing infrastructure to support advanced AI models,” said Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, group CEO of Ooredoo.
In an interview with Reuters, Fakhroo said Ooredoo is investing $1 billion to add an additional 20-25 megawatts (MW) of capacity to its regional data centers on top of its current 40 MW, with plans to nearly triple its capacity by the end of the decade.
Ooredoo's partnership with NVIDIA is part of the group's broader strategy to strengthen AI infrastructure in the MENA region while enhancing security, optimizing performance and enabling customization to local standards.
Ronnie Vashishtha, senior vice president of communications at NVIDIA, said offering the technology will enable Ooredoo to better help customers deploy generative AI applications.
The initiative, which will provide customers with a cutting-edge AI cloud platform, is expected to spur economic growth, job creation and innovation across the region.
Ooredoo's Growth Strategy
Ooredoo is transforming into a communications and infrastructure holding company with a non-hierarchical, multi-business structure. The Qatari company's overall goal is to foster synergies within the ecosystem while ensuring business sustainability and growth.
The company spun off its data centers into a separate company last year following deals with Zain in Kuwait and Dubai-based TASC Towers Holding to create the Middle East's largest tower company.
Fakhroo told Reuters the company was considering spinning off its undersea cables and fibre optic network into separate companies.
The group, which has a market capitalisation of $8.7 billion (Dh31.9 billion), saw its quarterly profit surge 26% year-on-year to $274 million (QAR1 billion) in the first quarter of 2024, while revenue rose 4% to QAR5.9 billion, driven by sustained commercial momentum in Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, the Maldives and Tunisia.
