Aramco Digital and Intel collaborate to establish Saudi Arabia's first Open RAN Development Center

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

The Open RAN Development Center aims to serve as an innovation hub, fostering collaboration between Aramco Digital and Intel engineers, researchers and industry experts. It will contribute to the development of local talent by providing training and hands-on experience in the rapidly evolving field of Open RAN and Edge computing technology. It is envisaged that it will connect Saudi Arabia to the global landscape of Open RAN and Edge development and deployment.

Catalyst for Innovation

Aramco Digital's CEO Tareq Amin said, "This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to helping drive innovation in the Kingdom. The Open RAN Development Center is expected to 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.”

"We are pleased to collaborate on Open RAN with Aramco Digital and to combine Intel's technological prowess in network and edge computing and software with the local insights and industry leadership of Aramco Digital. Together, we aim to accelerate the deployment of edge-native Open RAN solutions in Saudi Arabia and beyond," said Sachin Katti, Intel senior vice president and general manager of the Network and Edge Group.