Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 41 | Page 50

COUNTRY FOCUS: KSA Orange Business Services has been tailoring solutions for many of the region’s most high-profile Smart City developments including in KSA at The Digital City – ITCC; The Royal Commission at Yanbu; King Abdullah Financial District; King Abdul Aziz Road; Jeddah Economic City and Al Widyan. “ THE SMART CITY SERVICES CAN ALSO BE A DRIVER TO GENERATE BROADER SUSTAINABLE REVENUE FOR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS. converged added value services to the business and resident community. The Smart City digital master plan becomes an important component for Master Plan Heads, giving them an overview of the project including the digital services, and so highlights the infrastructure needed at an early stage of the construction programme. Orange Business Services defines the digital strategy for the developer, works with them on defining and refining the engineering guidelines to manage the services, and selecting the partners according to the engagement model agreed. In March 2018, Orange Business Services signed a Smart City consulting agreement with Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), the master developer of the world’s tallest tower, Jeddah Tower. The tower, which is over 1km tall, will be located at the 5.3 million square metre Jeddah Economic City Project. Orange is “ THE SMART CITY SERVICE AIMS TO ENHANCE THE LIFESTYLE OF TENANTS AND VISITORS AND INCREASE THE PRODUCTIVITY FOR BUSINESSES. 50 INTELLIGENTCIO creating a blueprint for the ICT infrastructure of the tower, from the plan and design, to the build and run phases. Orange leverages its capability as a global telco operator business consulting mainly in the MEA region, having end to end visibility on a Smart City setup from the ‘think’ phase to building and running the Smart City services, with strong references in the region. Orange Business Services has been focusing on developing this position in the region, playing the role of master systems integrator to build the trusted partner status with the region’s Smart City operators and governments, based on a consult, design, build, operate and co-innovation approach with them. Underpinning all of this is our expertise in the enabling digital technologies of the Smart City – the broadband network, cloud and IOT. Digital technologies have the potential to deliver transformative impact (those such as IoT, LPWAN, 5G, cloud, Big Data, AI and Blockchain) and the capacity to help build better and more efficient and sustainable cities whilst improving the quality of life for citizens and visitors. Orange Business Services is present at every stage in the Smart City data journey. What is the importance of the Smart City digital master plan and how will Orange contribute to this? Our new regional hub in Dubai Silicon Oasis, opened in 2018 and includes a solutions showroom, presenting and demonstrating Orange Business Services’ smart solutions portfolio and capabilities in a user-friendly space, designed to stimulate further innovative ideas and collaborative business opportunities. The Smart City vision is that the city is transformed by a new communications infrastructure that will bring big advantages in the economic marketplace, transformed by a single integrated network platform offering state-of-the-art, The new hub is also a regional centre of excellence for Smart Cities and from where we are designing the digital blueprints for the smart infrastructure and smart services of some of the highest profile and emerging Smart Cities across the region. n www.intelligentcio.com