Qatari telecom giant Ooredoo Group has signed a landmark agreement with Nvidia Corp., granting governments, enterprises, and startups in Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait, and the Maldives access to Nvidia’s cutting-edge AI platform. This collaboration marks the first deployment of Nvidia’s full-stack AI platform in the Middle East.
This strategic partnership comes amid heightened scrutiny from US officials, who have slowed the issuance of licenses to chipmakers like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices for large-scale AI accelerator shipments to the Middle East. The delays are part of a national security review of AI development in the region, sources told Bloomberg.
By joining forces with Nvidia as a Cloud Partner, Ooredoo aims to become a leading digital infrastructure provider in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. “Through this collaboration, Ooredoo is leveraging Nvidia’s advanced accelerated computing platform to help enable the AI revolution in the region,” Ooredoo stated.
Ooredoo is capitalizing on the substantial market demand for accelerated computing and hyperconnectivity across its MENA footprint by developing an AI-ready platform powered by Nvidia’s comprehensive innovation across systems, software, and services.
Offering GPU-as-a-Service
Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Group CEO of Ooredoo, emphasized the significance of the partnership: “Implementing Nvidia’s full-stack platform for accelerated computing and generative AI will enable us to meet the rapidly growing demand for advanced AI infrastructure.”
Ooredoo plans to deploy thousands of Nvidia Tensor Core GPUs in its AI data centers across the region. This deployment will allow customers to leverage a state-of-the-art AI platform with advanced infrastructure, tools, and software, optimizing processes and driving operational efficiencies across various industries.
Customers will benefit from Ooredoo’s GPU-as-a-Service, which provides on-demand access to some of the most advanced AI and machine learning tools, including transformative generative AI technologies.
Boosting AI Infrastructure in the MENA Region
Ooredoo’s collaboration with Nvidia is part of its broader initiative to enhance AI infrastructure in the MENA region, ensuring enhanced security, optimized performance, and customization to meet local standards.
Ronnie Vasishta, Senior Vice President of Telecom at Nvidia, highlighted the partnership’s potential: “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 facilitate the deployment of generative AI applications and services.”
This partnership positions Ooredoo Group at the forefront of AI development in the Middle East, leveraging Nvidia’s advanced technology to drive innovation and efficiency across the region.
