By Eng. Thamer Alfadda, SVP, Mobily Wholesale & Carrier Services
As digital transformation and cloudification accelerate both at the business and consumer level, global internet traffic is doubling every two to three years. This necessitates the availability of state-of-the-art domestic and international connectivity infrastructure, along with data centers where the content is locally hosted and interconnected at internet exchange points (IXPs).
Today’s global digital hubs, such as Frankfurt, Singapore, London, Amsterdam, Tokyo, New York, and São Paulo are the locations where carriers, hyperscalers, cloud providers, digital content platforms (OTTs), content delivery networks (CDNs), and gaming platforms are locally hosted and globally connected. As more participants join a digital hub, the hub's scale and value increases, which, in turn, boosts its appeal and attracts more ecosystem players to the area.
The aforementioned global digital hubs also serve as the world's business, financial, and logistics hubs, benefiting from their strategic geographical locations, advanced infrastructure, and favorable investment climates, facilitating the establishment of policy and regulatory frameworks and multicultural environments. These factors are central to Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation efforts and are supported by the third pillar of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to leverage the Kingdom's unique strategic location to position it as a global hub connecting three continents—Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Also Read: Mobily and Sparkle Join Forces to Enhance Connectivity Via Submarine Cable Systems
Middle East international bandwidth is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35% in the years leading up to 2028 and we believe the accelerated adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), autonomous vehicles (AVs), and robotics will require advanced ICT infrastructure along with domestic and international connectivity.
As a G20 country and the leading economy in the region with a relatively large population base, Saudi Arabia is one of the largest generators and consumers of data in the Middle East and Africa and has the critical mass required to become a global digital hub in the coming years.
As Saudi Arabia pursues its historical digital transformation journey, it is vital for us at Mobily to ensure that our ICT infrastructure, platforms, and service delivery capabilities serve as a catalyst for this transformation and attract digital ecosystem players to the region. In this context, we have established the Mobily Digital Hub, which will serve as a fully integrated ecosystem encompassing international connectivity, data centers, and an internet exchange.
On the international connectivity side, Mobily's submarine cables provide four strategic landing stations in Saudi Arabia that are connected to our robust domestic network, along with nine cross-border connections to neighboring countries, enabling seamless connectivity to other global hubs. Mobily's tier-certified and carrier-neutral data centers provide redundant interconnectivity through domestic fixed, mobile, and satellite networks as well as international connectivity through submarine cables, cross-border terrestrial fibers, and connections to global IXPs.
Our carrier-neutral internet exchange in our Jeddah (JED1) data center is powered by Equinix—a leading global data center and internet exchange operator—and serves as a strategic gateway for carriers, hyperscalers, cloud providers, digital content platforms, CDNs, and enterprises across various verticals.
Today, as the Kingdom generates growing worldwide interest, we are accelerating our investment in new infrastructure, wholesale transformation, partnerships and collaborations, and emerging technologies. We are committed to transforming Saudi Arabia into a global digital hub that connects the world with domestic and regional economies.
In line with Vision 2030 objectives, Mobily will continue to develop state-of-the art digital infrastructure and comprehensive solutions to contribute to the Kingdom's ambitious goal of becoming a global digital hub set to enable widespread digital transformation across the business and consumer sectors, while developing a robust digital economy.
Also Read: Mobily and Telecom Egypt Land First Saudi-Owned Subsea Cable Through the Red Sea
