Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily), a prominent player in the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sector, has announced a significant investment of $905 million (more than SAR 3.40 billion) in data centers and submarine cables. This strategic investment aims to enhance Saudi Arabia’s digital infrastructure and accelerate the growth of its digital economy. The announcement was made during Mobily’s participation in the fourth edition of the global technology event, LEAP 2025.
Mobily’s CEO, Salman Al Badran, highlighted the company’s commitment to boosting Saudi Arabia’s global connectivity through investments in several key submarine cables, including the Africa 1 cable, which connects the Kingdom to Africa and Europe, and the SMW6 cable linking Saudi Arabia to Asia and Europe. Additionally, Mobily has focused on upgrading the AAE1 submarine cable and expanding the fiber-optic network, ensuring multiple pathways for international carriers, global cloud service providers, and submarine cable consortiums.
Mobily’s investment in data centers has surpassed SAR 2 billion, with plans to build centers with a combined capacity of 39 MW. This expansion will cater to the growing demand for AI, GPU, and other advanced applications. These investments are seen as crucial for enabling both the public and private sectors to launch digital services, implement smart automation, and leverage data analytics.
Through these initiatives, Mobily aims to support Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors, while contributing to the Kingdom’s broader digital transformation goals. The company’s efforts will foster innovation and economic growth, positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in the region’s digital economy, which is currently valued at $260 billion, according to Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Al Swaha.
Mobily also signed agreements with Vodafone Business IoT and Ericsson during the LEAP event to further accelerate the Kingdom’s digital ecosystem.
