With technology advancing at lightning speed, the telecom industry is driving remarkable change, reshaping how we connect, work, and live.
Telecommunications and technology are no longer separate worlds; they’ve merged to create an era where digital solutions and artificial intelligence (AI) are redefining what’s possible. For companies to stay competitive, embracing advanced technologies has become essential. It’s not just about keeping up; it’s about finding smarter ways to operate, keep customers happy, and unlock new opportunities for growth.
At the heart of this shift is AI, a true game-changer for telcos. It is becoming a cornerstone of innovation, and companies across all sectors will eventually need to embed it into their business models to remain relevant and harness its transformative potential. From analyzing vast amounts of data and predicting issues before they arise to optimizing networks and automating customer service, AI is making things faster, smarter, and more personalized. But achieving this isn’t something telecom companies can do alone; it takes partnerships with technology leaders to fully tap into AI’s potential and scale its benefits.
One person who’s seen this transformation up close is Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Neama, Group Regional CEO of Ooredoo. With years of experience under his belt, Ahmad has been guiding Ooredoo’s regional operations during this exciting time. His leadership has been key to driving the integration of AI and digital technologies in the markets he oversees, helping Ooredoo strengthen its position as an industry leader while navigating challenges along the way.
This cover story will take you behind the scenes of this transformation, offering an inside look at Ahmad Al-Neama’s journey and his role at Ooredoo. We’ll explore Ooredoo’s groundbreaking partnership with NVIDIA, the transformative impact of AI on Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison in Indonesia, and how the company is tackling complex regulatory landscapes to drive growth and innovation.
Alongside these stories, you’ll see how Ooredoo is helping shape the future of telecommunications—one connection, one innovation, and one bold move at a time.
Profile
Ahmad Al-Neama’s journey with Ooredoo is a story of dedication, growth, and represents a person with a knack for navigating challenges with a forward-thinking approach. Born and raised in Doha, Qatar, Ahmad pursued a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Colorado, Denver—a decision that set him up for a career in the dynamic world of telecommunications.
Ahmad joined Ooredoo Qatar in 2004, stepping into a technical role that allowed him to immerse himself in the core operations of the industry. Early on, his problem-solving skills and natural leadership began to shine. Whether it was tackling engineering projects or streamlining operations, he quickly made a name for himself as someone who could turn challenges into opportunities. His early career saw him take on pivotal roles, including Director of Demand and Project Management and Senior Director of Radio Networks, where he played an instrumental role in shaping the technical backbone of Ooredoo Qatar.
As Ahmad’s responsibilities grew, so did his impact. From Chief Sales & Services Officer at Ooredoo Qatar to Group Chief Technology Officer at Ooredoo Group, he built a reputation for blending strategic vision with hands-on execution. In these roles, he worked to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen Ooredoo’s market presence, ensuring the company remained ahead in an ever-evolving industry.
In May 2019, Ahmad took on a new challenge: leading Indosat Ooredoo, one of Indonesia’s largest telecom companies, as President Director and CEO. His tenure in Indonesia was marked by his bold decisions and the impactful results the company delivered. From launching 5G services in multiple cities to steering the company through the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ahmad consistently delivered. One standout moment was orchestrating the USD 750 million sale of over 4,200 telecom towers—one of the largest deals of its kind in Asia. This strategic move not only strengthened Indosat Ooredoo’s financial position but also paved the way for its growth. Another highlight was the successful merger of Indosat Ooredoo with Hutchison 3 Indonesia, creating a more competitive and future-ready entity.
Today, as Group Regional CEO, Ahmad oversees Ooredoo’s operations in Algeria, Tunisia, Palestine, the Maldives, and Indonesia, demonstrating a diverse portfolio of markets with unique challenges and opportunities. He remains focused on fostering collaboration and identifying partnerships that unlock growth while ensuring cost efficiency.
In an exclusive interview with Telecom Review, we sat down with Ahmad to explore Ooredoo’s ambitious strides in digital infrastructure and its groundbreaking partnership with NVIDIA, which is set to bring the power of AI to its markets. He also shared his perspective on Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison’s remarkable success—one of Ooredoo’s flagship success stories. We also discussed how the company is tackling complex regulatory challenges in a fast-changing landscape.
Digital infrastructure has become a cornerstone of modern economies. How is Ooredoo positioning itself as a leader in this space?
Ahmad: Digital infrastructure is the heartbeat of modern innovation and economic growth. It’s what powers everything from AI and 5G to cloud computing and digital payments, making it essential for businesses, governments, and communities to thrive in today’s world.
At Ooredoo, we’ve embraced this reality by reimagining how we operate. A few years ago, we started transforming Ooredoo into a telecom and infrastructure holding company with five key focus areas: telco operations, towers, data centers, subsea cables, and fintech. This isn’t just a new structure; it’s a way to ensure we’re ready to support the next wave of digital transformation.
Take our data centers, for example. These are built to handle advanced AI workloads and cloud services, enabling businesses to innovate faster and smarter. Or our investment in subsea cables, like the 2Africa project, which is in its final stages of landing. This will provide the region with stronger global connectivity, a critical piece of the puzzle for economic growth.
By breaking away from the traditional telecom model and moving toward a more focused, layered approach, we’ve created a system that’s not only more agile but also more aligned with the needs of the digital economy. This means we can strategically invest where it matters most and help our partner—whether they’re startups, enterprises, or governments—tap into new opportunities and deliver real impact.
Ultimately, our goal is simple: to build the foundation that supports innovation and drives economic progress, creating a future where everyone can benefit from the power of technology.
AI is clearly a major focus for Ooredoo, especially with your partnership with NVIDIA. How do you see this collaboration shaping Ooredoo’s role in the AI ecosystem, and what opportunities does it open up for the markets you serve?
Ahmad: AI is a transformative technology that’s reshaping industries, and at Ooredoo, we see it as a critical part of our future. Our partnership with NVIDIA represents a major milestone in this journey. NVIDIA’s expertise in AI hardware and software, combined with our advanced digital infrastructure, positions us to play a leading role in the AI ecosystem across our markets.
One of the first steps we’re taking is adapting and retrofitting our data centers to deploy NVIDIA’s latest-generation GPUs. These are specifically designed for high-performance computing and AI workloads and having them integrated into our operations will open up enormous possibilities—not just for us, but for the businesses, governments, and communities we serve.
In practical terms, this collaboration enables us to bring AI-driven solutions to life. For example, we’re looking at opportunities in sectors like healthcare, oil and gas, financial services, and transportation. AI can help these industries unlock new efficiencies, gain deeper insights, and deliver more personalized services.
But beyond specific use cases, this partnership also strengthens our position as an enabler of innovation. By offering AI-ready infrastructure, we’re helping our markets across the MENA region prepare for the future—whether that’s by supporting startups, experimenting with AI applications, enabling enterprises to scale their AI strategies, or empowering governments to use AI for public services.
What excites me most is that we’re just getting started. AI is still in its early stages, and through this partnership, Ooredoo is laying the groundwork to ensure we can grow alongside the evolving needs of our customers and the wider digital economy to become the MENA region’s leading digital infrastructure group.
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison is one of Ooredoo’s key markets, and it’s been making significant strides in AI and digital transformation. Can you share more about IOH’s journey, particularly how the partnership with NVIDIA is playing a role, and what this means for their customers and Indonesia’s broader digital ecosystem?
Ahmad: Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) has had an incredible year in 2024, taking steps that really showcase its leadership in digital infrastructure and AI. Indonesia is such a dynamic market, and IOH is driving the country’s digital-first future with some truly innovative initiatives.
And here’s the exciting part: the lessons we’ve learned from IOH’s success are already shaping our approach in other markets. The collaboration with NVIDIA has demonstrated the potential of AI when combined with world-class infrastructure. And we’re now bringing that model to the broader region, scaling what’s worked so well in Indonesia to accelerate digital transformation and deliver real value for businesses and communities across our footprint.
One of the standout achievements this year has been IOH’s work on data centers. In partnership with BDx Indonesia and Lintasarta, they made a game-changing move with a deal worth IDR 2,625 billion (around USD 165 million), acquiring carrier-neutral colocation and edge sites across Indonesia. These ten strategic sites are now connected to major domestic and international subsea cables, significantly boosting the country’s digital infrastructure. It’s all about creating the kind of connectivity that businesses and communities can rely on as they grow and innovate.
Then there’s the work IOH has been doing with NVIDIA, which is nothing short of groundbreaking. Together, they’re building AI-ready infrastructure, including state-of-the-art data centers equipped with NVIDIA’s cutting-edge AI platforms. This partnership is all about making AI accessible across industries, giving local businesses and government agencies the tools they need to transform the way they operate.
One initiative I’m particularly excited about is Sahabat-AI, a project designed to bring Indonesian large language models (LLMs) to life. These LLMs are tailored specifically to Indonesia’s cultural and linguistic needs, and they’re already enabling industries and public services to innovate in ways that truly resonate with the local community.
IOH’s subsidiary, Lintasarta, also launched GPU Merdeka, a sovereign AI cloud service powered by NVIDIA. This is a big deal because it gives businesses in Indonesia the ability to access high-performance AI tools and integrate them seamlessly into their operations.
But it’s not just about the technology; IOH has also focused on driving collaboration and sparking ideas. For example, they hosted a Banking AI Day to explore how AI can reshape financial services, and they have partnered with companies like Accenture and Google Cloud to deliver enterprise-grade AI solutions that enhance customer experiences.
What I find most inspiring about IOH’s journey is how it’s creating ripple effects across Indonesia’s digital ecosystem. It’s about building infrastructure, empowering entire industries, fostering innovation, and driving economic growth.
The recent Digital Ecosystem Conference held by Ooredoo Group highlighted the critical role of policy and regulation in shaping the future of the digital economy. Given the rapid advancements in AI and digital infrastructure, how do you see regulations evolving to balance innovation with oversight? And what specific steps should be taken to regulate AI use cases effectively while fostering growth in markets like Indonesia?
Ahmad: Regulation is absolutely essential when it comes to harnessing the full potential of AI and digital infrastructure, which will lead us to a thriving digital economy. This was one of the central themes at the Digital Ecosystem Conference and what we’ve seen during the event is that we are already working with some of the best frameworks globally. Qatar, for instance, has built a regulatory ecosystem that sets a high benchmark for balancing innovation with oversight.
One thing that really stood out during the event was the consensus that regulations need to evolve as fast as technology itself, if not faster. Otherwise, we risk stalling innovation before it even gets off the ground. So, there is definitely room to strengthen and adapt these frameworks to meet emerging challenges.
For AI, it’s not about regulating the technology itself, which has existed in various forms for decades; instead, the focus should be on its applications. See, what’s really changing now are the use cases. These are the areas where AI is applied, like predictive analytics in healthcare, fraud detection in banking, or personalized learning in education. And each use case comes with its own unique risks and opportunities, which means regulation must be tailored to address specific contexts, while ensuring consistency across markets.
Consider Indonesia, for example. It’s a fast-growing digital economy where initiatives like GPU Merdeka and Sahabat-AI depend on regulatory clarity. Every step forward is tied to ensuring we have the right frameworks in place. At IOH, as we roll out sovereign AI infrastructure and initiatives like Sahabat-AI, we’re working closely with local stakeholders to ensure that these innovations align with national priorities, whether it be data sovereignty, consumer protection, or cybersecurity. This approach allows innovation to boom without compromising safety or trust.
Another key takeaway from the conference was the need for collaboration between governments, industry players, and regulators. By collaboration, I mean going beyond just creating rules and setting regulations to actually having open dialogue and constructive conversations that end up benefitting all stakeholders. In our markets, we’ve seen firsthand how discussions around cross-border data protection, the 5G rollout, and AI ethics can pave the way for balanced frameworks that both enable growth and safeguard public interest.
Regulation is not a barrier, and it shouldn’t be; it’s a blueprint that gives everyone clarity, consistency, and confidence. But for that to happen, we need a shift in mindset. Regulators and industry players must work together on co-creating policies that are forward-thinking, adaptable, and, most importantly, aligned with the pace of innovation.
At Ooredoo, we see ourselves as enablers. We are not just technology providers, but also a partner working closely with governments, regulators, and policymakers to co-create policies that are forward-thinking, practical, and implementable. By initiating and contributing to conversations like those we recently had at the Digital Ecosystem Conference, we’re helping to shape a regulatory environment that ensures technologies like AI can truly prosper while addressing the unique needs and challenges of each market.
And to bring it back to Indonesia, I think it’s a perfect case study. The success of initiatives like GPU Merdeka or Sahabat-AI depends on a regulatory ecosystem that understands the transformative potential of these technologies. It’s about setting the right foundations now, so we’re not just building for today, but for the future.
Conclusion
As Ahmad reflects on the strides Ooredoo has made and the opportunities ahead, one question remains: How does Ooredoo plan to stay ahead of the curve in a world where technology evolves faster than ever? The answer lies in the company’s solid commitment to innovation, partnerships, and creating a sustainable digital ecosystem one bold step at a time.
