Neom Tech & Digital Holding Company and, One Web, backed by Indian telecommunications tycoon Sunil Mittal, signed a $200 million joint venture agreement to deliver high-speed satellite connectivity to the Saudi megacity of Neom, the wider Middle East, and neighbouring East African nations.
The agreement “is a testament to Saudi Arabia’s promising future in the space technology sectors ... [and] will contribute to economic growth and accelerate digital and communications knowledge transfer to the kingdom", Saudi Arabia's Minister of Investment Khalid Al Falih said on Tuesday during the Future Investment Initiative summit being held in Riyadh.
Neom Tech & Digital Holding, the primary holding firm to be established as a subsidiary of Neom, and the new entity will have exclusive rights to distribute OneWeb services in its target regions for seven years from the initiation of the low earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, which is expected to commence in 2023.
Neom Tech & Digital Holding and OneWeb, the second largest LEO operator with 358 satellites and the only licensed operator in Saudi Arabia, expect to complete ground infrastructure in 2022.
The launch of OneWeb's satellite network will "transform businesses and rural communities in the region where access to fibre-like internet was previously unimaginable", according to the statement.
The agreement also includes a long-term strategic partnership regarding research and development of future connectivity systems.
"We still have nine years to complete our journey and we are confident that we will meet all requirements so that Neom will be in the location that the Crown Prince [Mohammed bin Salman], chairman of the board of directors, wanted it to be an unprecedented event in the history of mankind," said Nazim Al Nasr, chief executive of the Neom project.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
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Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
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Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
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Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
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The biog
Born: High Wycombe, England
Favourite vehicle: One with solid axels
Favourite camping spot: Anywhere I can get to.
Favourite road trip: My first trip to Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan. The desert they have over there is different and the language made it a bit more challenging.
Favourite spot in the UAE: Al Dhafra. It’s unique, natural, inaccessible, unspoilt.
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
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Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
