NEWS
Cisco and
Bahwan to
implement
Smart Cities
tech for Oman
ministry
OTF earmarks one
million riyals for
technology companies
Oman’s Ministry of Technology and
Communications has launched a pilot
project for Smart Cities in the Knowledge
Oasis Muscat (KOM) in partnership with
Oman Telecommunications Company
(Omantel) and the Public Establishment for
Industrial Estates (Madayn). The project is
being implemented by Cisco and Bahwan
Information Technology and was unveiled
under the patronage of the Sultanate’s
Minister of Technology and Communications,
Azza bint Sulaiman al-Ismailia.
During the launch, a presentation on
the Smart City system was presented by
Technical Director at Cisco, Turki bin Saif
al-Yahmadi. He explained some of the
benefits of implementing the project, which
included controlling traffic in the KOM using
an advanced database that enables rapid
data analysis.
Chief Executive Officer at the ministry,
Dr Salim bin Sultan al-Ruzaiqi, explained how
the project, which will be an experimental
model, contributes to providing an
infrastructure for Smart Cities in the
Sultanate. He added that the decision
makers and various concerned authorities
and institutions could benefit from the
project when implementing Smart City
projects in all governorates across the
country. Al-Ruzaiqi said: “The launch of the
Smart Cities project at the SAS Center for
the 4th Industrial Revolution comes with the
objective of launching Omani projects and
institutions working in the field of the Fourth
Industrial Revolution applications, such as
IOT, AI, Blockchain and others.”
The Oman Technology Fund (OTF) has
allocated one million Omani riyals for
investment in expansion projects. The
step comes in response to aspirations for
innovation-based youth initiatives that
are underscored by His Majesty Sultan
Haitham bin Tarik.
Eng Youself bin Ali al-Harthi, CEO of the
OTF, said the sum will be channelled to
Omani technology companies that focus
exclusively in applications and electronic
platforms that advance innovation. The
aim is to provide technical solutions to
help citizens and residents perform a
policy of social distancing to impede
the spread of Coronavirus, he added.
In a statement to Oman News Agency,
al-Harthi said that apps will now be a key
factor for economic sustainability in the
next phase of development designed to
keep pace with regional and international
progress. The OTF will streamline
application procedures, take decisions
in record time and encourage social
distancing contact among committees
tasked with issuing approvals in the
shortest possible time, said al-Harthi.
He added that the OTF has a total of 104
tech investments in different sectors run
by young Omanis. Financial support is
extended to this segment to help make
their projects capable of meeting urgent
needs that are an outcome of the current
conditions, he explained.
14 INTELLIGENTCIO www.intelligentcio.com