Ooredoo partners with NVIDIA to drive AI in MENA

Ooredoo Group has declared it is becoming an NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP), in line with its ambition to become the premier digital infrastructure provider in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region

This collaboration allows Ooredoo to utilise NVIDIA’s advanced accelerated computing platform to drive the AI revolution in the area.

Leveraging the substantial market demand for accelerated computing and hyperconnectivity throughout its MENA footprint, Ooredoo is creating an AI-ready platform powered by NVIDIA’s comprehensive innovation across systems, software, and services.

This platform will be an essential asset, supporting governments and empowering enterprises and startups to securely process their private datasets, producing valuable insights as tokens that drive innovations for its users.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Group CEO, Ooredoo, commented, “Implementing NVIDIA's full-stack platform for accelerated computing and generative AI, Ooredoo is equipped to be at the forefront of the AI revolution in MENA, driving digitalisation and innovation as the leading digital infrastructure provider in the region. Working with NVIDIA, we aim to meet the significantly growing demand for accelerated computing infrastructure to support advanced AI models.”

Transforming industries with next-generation AI and GPU offerings

This collaboration provides governments, enterprises, and startups in Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait, and the Maldives access to NVIDIA's latest full-stack AI platform.

Ooredoo intends to deploy thousands of NVIDIA Tensor Core GPUs in its AI data centres to support the region, enabling customers to use a state-of-the-art AI platform with advanced infrastructure, tools, and software

This will optimise processes and enhance operational efficiencies across industries.

Customers will benefit from Ooredoo’s GPU-as-a-Service, which offers on-demand access to some of the most advanced AI and machine learning tools available - including one of the most transformative technologies today, generative AI.

Ronnie Vasishta, senior vice-president of Telecom, NVIDIA, said, “As a trusted regional telecommunications provider, Ooredoo Group combines deep enterprise and consumer relationships with the ability to invest in and deploy AI infrastructure and services. By providing NVIDIA’s full-stack AI computing platform to customers, Ooredoo will help make it easier for their customers to deploy generative AI applications and services.”

Ooredoo driving regional growth through localised Infrastructure and AI hosting solutions

Ooredoo Group’s collaboration with NVIDIA is part of its broader goal to enhance AI infrastructure in the MENA region, while providing improved security, optimised performance, and customisation to meet local standards.

This enables the countries where Ooredoo operates to establish local clouds, fostering the development of local AI ecosystems and applications, and strengthening data security measures.

Ooredoo will offer GPU-as-infrastructure, giving its customers the flexibility to integrate accelerated computing with their own cloud solutions or host them on-premises. This ensures customers have the most efficient and tailored AI processing capabilities available.

This initiative is expected to stimulate economic growth, job creation, and technological innovation across the region by providing customers with a cutting-edge AI cloud platform. Ooredoo will work closely with stakeholders in each country to ensure alignment with local requirements and to maximize the benefits of its AI initiatives to advance sovereign AI goals.

A leading digital infrastructure provider

Ooredoo’s digital ecosystem includes core telecom services and a dedicated data centre platform, along with independent entities focused on wireless towers, financial technology, and subsea cable ventures. This aligns with Ooredoo's strategy to transform into a telecom and infrastructure holding with a de-layered multi-business structure, aiming to become the neutral carrier of choice, creating synergies across its ecosystem while ensuring business sustainability and growth.

The agreement with NVIDIA was signed during TMForum’s DTW24 in Copenhagen in the presence of Ooredoo Group CEO Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo and NVIDIA Senior Vice President of Telecom Ronnie Vasishta.