Aramco Digital, Intel to Establish 1st Center to Develop Open Radio Access Networks in Saudi Arabia

Aramco Digital and Intel plan to establish Saudi Arabia’s first open radio access networks (Open RAN) center. (SPA)
Aramco Digital and Intel plan to establish Saudi Arabia’s first open radio access networks (Open RAN) center. (SPA)
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Aramco Digital, Intel to Establish 1st Center to Develop Open Radio Access Networks in Saudi Arabia

Aramco Digital and Intel plan to establish Saudi Arabia’s first open radio access networks (Open RAN) center. (SPA)
Aramco Digital and Intel plan to establish Saudi Arabia’s first open radio access networks (Open RAN) center. (SPA)

Aramco Digital and Intel announced on Monday their intention to establish Saudi Arabia’s first open radio access networks (Open RAN) center, which is expected to contribute to driving innovation, promoting technological progress and contributing to the Saudi digital transformation process.

Their cooperation is bound to accelerate the development and application of Open RAN technologies, which will boost the Kingdom's endeavor to establish a robust and flexible telecommunications infrastructure focused on accelerating digital transformation across various industries and fulfilling the Saudi Vision 2030, which envisages technological progress and economic diversification.

Open RAN, a sophisticated model of radio network structure, allows for greater flexibility, interoperability and innovation.

Aramco Digital will provide deep knowledge of the Kingdom's development needs and aspirations, and opportunities for the application of Open RAN technology, along with a unique perspective on the Kingdom's economic landscape, while Intel, a leader in computing and communications technologies, will offer its expertise in Open RAN technologies.

The top areas of collaboration between the two companies include the innovation center, which aims to develop an Open RAN to be the focus of innovation, and promote collaboration between engineers of Aramco Digital and Intel, and researchers and industry experts.

The center also seeks to contribute to the development of local competencies by providing training and practical expertise in Open RAN technology and in rapidly evolving edge computing technology through which data is collected and processed.



Google Parent's Partnership with AI Startup Anthropic under UK Investigation

Letters spell the word "Alphabet" as they are seen on a computer screen with a Google search page in this photo illustration taken in Paris, France, August 11, 2015. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo
Letters spell the word "Alphabet" as they are seen on a computer screen with a Google search page in this photo illustration taken in Paris, France, August 11, 2015. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo
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Google Parent's Partnership with AI Startup Anthropic under UK Investigation

Letters spell the word "Alphabet" as they are seen on a computer screen with a Google search page in this photo illustration taken in Paris, France, August 11, 2015. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo
Letters spell the word "Alphabet" as they are seen on a computer screen with a Google search page in this photo illustration taken in Paris, France, August 11, 2015. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo

Britain's competition watchdog is investigating Google-parent Alphabet's partnership with AI startup Anthropic and its impact on competition, the regulator said on Tuesday.

This becomes the latest AI partnership to come under scrutiny by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which earlier this month launched a probe into Microsoft's hiring of some former staff of Inflection AI and its partnership with the startup, Reuters reported.

The CMA, which is seeking views on whether the Alphabet-Anthropic partnership could lessen competition in the UK, has set a deadline of Aug. 13 for its so-called phase 1 invitation to comment.

The partnership between Amazon and Anthropic, owner of the generative AI chatbot Claude, has also drawn scrutiny from the British watchdog.