Masdar City, a leader in sustainable innovation and development, and du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), are collaborating to construct a 5G Center of Excellence in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. The MOU was signed at GITEX Global 2022, where du is exhibiting a cutting-edge exhibition with the subtitle “Powering Governments, Shaping The Emirates Reality.”
du will collaborate with Masdar City, the only planned and authorised R&D cluster in Abu Dhabi, as part of the deal, to implement a Smart City Platform that integrates physical infrastructure, open and shareable data, and smart apps to provide unparalleled value. An sophisticated Command & Control Center and a 5G Center of Excellence showcasing exponential technologies will also be developed as part of the project. This would boost Masdar City management’s operational effectiveness and the daily quality of life for locals and visitors. The agreement highlights du’s all-encompassing approach to innovation in line with the sustainability objectives of the UAE and the strategic initiative known as Net Zero by 2050.
According to Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Executive Officer at du,
“Reinventing tomorrow is all about rethinking and rebuilding operating models for businesses and coming together to establish agile, innovative platforms to support our vision. We are excited to partner with Masdar to establish a 5G Center of Excellence to present exponential technologies and become part of the equation to deliver a strong, connected future through the Smart City project.”
Ahmed Baghoum, Executive Director, Masdar City said:
We are delighted to welcome du to develop a 5G Center of Excellence in Masdar City. The CoE will bring du, partner organisations, and educational institutions together to create real world 5G applications. These applications will be tested at Masdar City, which is Abu Dhabi’s only planned and approved R&D cluster with a focus on innovative technologies, and further enhance its reputation as a Smart City. After proof of concept at Masdar City, these applications will be rolled out commercially across the UAE and beyond.”
The Smart City vision encompasses an integrated approach to champion disruption with scalable and phased implementation, and flexible frameworks and standards to achieve cost efficiency and agility. du will leverage world-class sustainable Internet of Things (IoT) technology to deliver a complete view on the sustainability of Masdar City’s assets while facilitating processes such as asset benchmarking, performance and predictive analytics, along with insights on digital operations. The partnership will facilitate seamless city operations, leading to optimized and improved services.
The Center of Excellence will bring transformative and disruptive technological innovations in addition to Smart Cities, with a particular emphasis on environmental, social, and governance concerns. Masdar City will become the first 5G-enabled sustainable city in the world by validating and implementing next-generation technologies, positioning du and Masdar to embrace advanced innovation and build a better future for the UAE.
