Emaar Economic City (EEC), a Tadawul-listed company developing the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), has awarded a SAR320 million (Dh320m) contract to Ericsson to implement and operate the smart city infrastructure and the multi-purpose network for Ethraa, The Smart City.
Ericsson will design, build and operate the telephony, internet and data plus video broadcasting infrastructure for all investors and residents within KAEC, the EEC said in a statement yesterday.
Fahd Al Rasheed, EEC's Chief Executive Officer and Board Member, said: "Ethraa has been specifically planned to build the smart city capabilities of KAEC and create a robust, efficiency-driven platform of growth for our investors. Ericsson has globally proven competencies and cutting-edge technological expertise to help attain the goals of Ethraa. Our partnership thus brings in best-in-class ICT capabilities to KAEC and the Kingdom."
Bjorn Hemstad, Chairman, Ericsson Central Europe, Middle East and Africa (Cema), said: "Saudi Arabia is one of the key markets in our expansion across the Cema. The partnership with King Abdullah Economic City, a pioneering developmental project, will help us to showcase our capabilities in smart city design, management and operation. With the agreement, Ericsson will bring to residents and tenants of KAEC the breakthrough innovations in ICT."
Omar Al Khudairi, Senior Director, Ethraa, said: "Ethraa is derived from an Arabic word to mean enrichment, and the goal of Ethraa, The Smart City is to enrich the lives of residents in KAEC through innovative telecom, communication facilities and integrated new generation IT applications."
Al Rasheed said: "In today's competitive economic environment, it is important to give the extra value to customers. The smart city capabilities of KAEC will be a draw for international investors who are assured of real-time and efficient support systems. By integrating various components such as utilities, security, healthcare, industrial zone services and other aspects of living under the Smart City network, the quality of living of residents will be enhanced."
Ericsson will undertake an extensive recon and survey of KAEC and custom-develop the smart city infrastructure through a dedicated R&D team. The ICT foundation to be developed by Ericsson will ensure that investors and residents in KAEC will have access to the highest broadband connectivity possible, telephony and multimedia, including seamless video connectivity.
KAEC, spread over 168 million sq mt, is the largest private sector development in the region, and has six key components – the Sea Port, Industrial Zone, Central Business District, Educational Zone, Resort District and Residential Communities.