Nvidia to deploy GenAI technology at Ooredoo data centres

• Ooredoo’s B2B clients will have access to services that their competitors may not have for another 18 to 24 months, CEO says.
• Ooredoo is investing $1b to boost its regional data centre capacity by an additional 20-25MW, on top of the existing 40MW.

Nvidia, the renowned technology giant, has signed an agreement with Ooredoo, a leading telecommunications group in the Middle East.

The partnership marks Nvidia’s first large-scale deployment of its artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the region, providing a valuable opportunity for Ooredoo’s clients to access the latest advancements in AI and graphics processing.

The agreement, signed during TMForum’s DTW24 in Copenhagen, will enable Ooredoo to offer its customers in Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait, and the Maldives direct access to Nvidia’s cutting-edge AI and graphics processing capabilities.

Ooredoo is developing an AI-ready platform powered by NVIDIA’s full-stack innovation across systems, software, and services.

The arrangement is particularly noteworthy as it comes at a time when the United States has placed restrictions on the export of sophisticated chips to certain Middle Eastern countries, in an effort to prevent Chinese firms from using the region as a backdoor to access the newest AI technology.

Exclusive access

Ooredoo’s CEO, Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, said that their B2B clients will have access to services that their competitors may not have for another 18 to 24 months.

“The exclusive access to Nvidia’s technology will allow Ooredoo to better assist its customers in deploying generative AI applications, a rapidly evolving field with immense potential.”

Moreover, he said that by 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.

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 available today, generative AI.

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

Ooredoo Group’s collaboration with Nvidia is part of its larger aim to boost AI infrastructure in the MENA region while enabling enhanced security, optimised performance, and customisation to align with local standards.

To support this partnership, Ooredoo is investing $1 billion to boost its regional data centre capacity by an additional 20-25 megawatts, on top of the existing 40 megawatts. The company also plans to further expand its data centre infrastructure, with the goal of nearly tripling its capacity by the end of the decade.

This strategic collaboration between Nvidia and Ooredoo not only highlights the growing importance of AI technology in the Middle East but also showcases Ooredoo’s commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation.