Saudis Building Tech City

Ericsson is to supply, build, integrate operate and manage multiplay communications infrastructure for Saudi Arabia's high-tech flagship, King Abdullah Economic City. The five-year sole-supplier partnership agreement with Emaar, developer of the smart-city project, is the first for an end-to-end fixed network in Saudi Arabia.

This turnkey agreement award breaks new ground in Saudi Arabia as Ericsson's first GPON- enabled IPTV contract, the first fiber optic contract and the first fixed-network IMS contract where Ericsson provides systems integration and network rollout services. The contract brings together products from Ericsson's major acquisitions -- Entrisphere, Marconi, Redback and TANDBERG Television -- and the company's telecom services portfolio.

The network will provide innovative services -- using latest GPON fiber-to-the home technology -- enabling advanced multimedia services for TV, PC and telephones. Services such as IP telephony, movies-on-demand, personalized TV, Super fast Internet and data services are being provided at competitive prices for King Abdullah Economic City's 2 million residents.

Fahd Al-Rasheed, CEO of Emaar the Economic City, says: "This partnership sets the foundation for King Abdullah Economic City to be the world's first truly smart city."

Omar Al-Khudairi, Ethraa Smart City senior director, described the deal to build the smart city's infrastructure in alliance with Ericsson as a global benchmark from all perspectives.

Jan Kemvall, president, Ericsson Saudi Arabia, says: "It is a great privilege to be a partner with Emaar in building King Abdullah Economic City. There are many opportunities to add value because we will deliver and operate the communication infrastructure across the city."