ARAMCO DIGITAL, INTEL TEAM UP TO SET UP SAUDI ARABIA'S FIRST OPEN RAN CENTRE

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Aramco Digital and Intel announced their intent to establish Saudi Arabia’s inaugural Open Radio Access Network (RAN) Development Center, marking a milestone in the Kingdom's journey towards a technology-driven future.

According to a statement, the facility which set to commence operations in 2024, is expected to drive innovation, foster technological advancements and contribute to the digital transformation landscape in the Kingdom.

The collaborative effort aims to accelerate the development and deployment of Open RAN technologies, helping to enable the Kingdom to build robust and agile telecommunication infrastructure focused on accelerating digitisation across industries.

Aramco Digital chief executive officer, Tareq Amin said this collaboration will be a catalyst for digital evolution, providing a platform for collaboration, skill development and the creation of a vibrant technology ecosystem.

“At the heart of this collaboration is the creation of a vibrant pool of local capabilities for advanced 5G and future 6G technologies,” he said.

Meanwhile Intel senior vice president and general manager of the Network and Edge Group, Sachin Katti said: “Together, we aim to accelerate the deployment of edge-native Open RAN solutions in Saudi Arabia and beyond.”

Open RAN, an evolving paradigm in wireless network architecture, allows for greater flexibility, interoperability and innovation.

Aramco Digital brings a deep understanding of the development needs and ambitions of Saudi Arabia and the opportunities for Open RAN technology deployment, along with a unique perspective of the Kingdom's economic landscape, while Intel, a pioneer in computing and communication technologies, brings its expertise in Open RAN technologies to the collaboration.

This collaboration aims to align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which focuses on technological advancements and economic diversification.

The centre aims to serve as an innovation hub, fostering collaboration between Aramco Digital and Intel engineers, researchers and industry experts; and contribute to the development of local talent by providing training and hands-on experience, among others.

-- BERNAMA