Nvidia to Launch AI Tech in Middle East with Ooredoo Partnership

Nvidia has reached an agreement to deploy its artificial intelligence technology at data centers owned by the Qatari telecoms group Ooredoo in five Middle Eastern countries, according to Ooredoo's CEO. This deal represents Nvidia's first significant launch in a region where U.S. restrictions aim to prevent Chinese firms from accessing advanced AI technology through Middle Eastern countries.

Ooredoo's Regional Advantage

Ooredoo will be the first company in the region to offer direct access to Nvidia's AI and graphics processing technology to its data center clients in Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait, and the Maldives. This collaboration will enhance Ooredoo's ability to support customers in deploying generative AI applications, as noted by Ronnie Vasishta, Nvidia's senior vice president of telecom.

Competitive Edge for Ooredoo Clients

Ooredoo CEO Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo highlighted the competitive advantage of this partnership, stating, "Our B2B clients will have access to services that their competitors won't have for another 18 to 24 months."

Details of the Agreement and Future Plans

The financial details of the agreement, signed at the TM Forum in Copenhagen on June 19, were not disclosed. Ooredoo did not specify which Nvidia technologies will be installed, indicating that this will depend on availability and customer demand. Although the U.S. permits some Nvidia technology exports to the Middle East, the most sophisticated chips are restricted.

Ooredoo is investing $1 billion to increase its regional data center capacity by an additional 20-25 megawatts, adding to its existing 40 megawatts. The company aims to nearly triple this capacity by the end of the decade. This follows Ooredoo's strategic move to separate its data centers into a standalone company and its collaboration with Kuwait's Zain and Dubai's TASC Towers Holding to create the Middle East's largest tower company.