Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 58 | Page 14

NEWS MTC and Huawei ink partnership to develop Oman’s ICT ecosystem Oman telecom group woos global cloud services firm The Ministry of Technology and Communications (MTC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Huawei, a telecommunication solutions provider. The MoU was signed to launch a new collaborative effort to develop Oman’s digital society and ICT ecosystem. The MoU was signed by Dr Salim bin Sultan al-Ruzaiqi, CEO of MTC, and Chen Bing, CEO of Huawei Oman. This MoU represents a long-term cooperation programme between MTC and Huawei Oman to develop the ICT sector in the Sultanate. The MoU will see the two entities work together to foster knowledge transfer, develop Oman’s ICT talent and establish new digital processes that will streamline the Sultanate’s communications, among other benefits. Dr Salim bin Sultan al-Ruzaiqi said: “We’re pleased to tie up with Huawei to empower the Omani talents and innovators in the ICT field. Through this MoU with Huawei, we will use technology to enhance government services, enable businesses to thrive and build ICT talent and knowledge throughout the Sultanate. “One of the key components of this partnership is the co-operation to launch and promote the apps developed by the trainees at Centre for Mobile Apps Development through Huawei Mobile Service (HMS), as well as adopting the immerging 4IR technologies to create digital solutions directed towards different life aspects.” Oman Information Technology and Communications Group (OITCG) has signed an agreement with Oracle cloud data services company to build and provide a cloud infrastructure ‘Cloud@ Customer’ system. The step comes after the OITCG studied the best solutions offered by major international cloud services firms to woo them into the setting up and operation of an integrated set of Information Technology built on an advanced cloud database, with full control over the infrastructure and data within the Sultanate as a measure to realise digital sovereignty. Eng Said bin Abdullah al-Mantheri, CEO of OITCG, said that Oracle was selected after an in-depth survey of most cyber service operators, noting that Oman will be the first country in the world to use such an Oracle cloud@customer system enhanced with the best features that respond to future needs at suitable cost-effective rates that are commensurate to the volume of market requirements in the Sultanate. The Ministry of Technology and Communications and OITCG will undertake the responsibility of stimulating demand and urging establishments to change and benefit from cloud services instead of continuing to utilise traditional systems, Al-Mantheri explained. He added that OITCG will work to support government and private establishments through the project so that they could keep pace with technological and technical progress in e-services and set up platforms capable of hosting Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain technology. 14 INTELLIGENTCIO www.intelligentcio.com