du strikes MoU with Masdar City to build 5G Centre of Excellence

By Shilpa Annie Joseph, Official Reporter
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du, the Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC) is partnering with Masdar City, a global leader in sustainable innovation and development, in order to build a 5G Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi.

As part of the agreement, du will work with Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s only planned and approved research and development (R&D) cluster, to implement a Smart City Platform, which combines physical infrastructure, open and shared data, and smart applications to deliver unprecedented value.

The project will also oversee the development of an advanced Command & Control Centre along with a 5G Centre of Excellence showcasing exponential technologies. This will enable operational efficiencies for Masdar City management and improve the daily quality of life for residents and tourists.

Fahad Al Hassawi
Fahad Al Hassawi
CEO – du

“Reinventing tomorrow is all about rethinking and rebuilding operating models for businesses and coming together to establish agile, innovative platforms to support our vision. We are excited to partner with Masdar to establish a 5G Center of Excellence to present exponential technologies and become part of the equation to deliver a strong, connected future through the Smart City project.”

“The CoE will bring du, partner organizations, and educational institutions together to create real-world 5G applications. These applications will be tested at Masdar City, which is Abu Dhabi’s only planned and approved R&D cluster with a focus on innovative technologies, and further enhance its reputation as a Smart City. After proof of concept at Masdar City, these applications will be rolled out commercially across the UAE and beyond,” noted Mr. Ahmed Baghoum, Executive Director of Masdar City.

In addition to Smart City, the Centre of Excellence will deliver transformative and disruptive technological innovations with a key focus on the environment, social, and governance factors.

“Through substantiating and implementing next-generation technologies, du and Masdar will embrace advanced innovation to position Masdar City as the first 5G-enabled sustainable city in the world and create an enhanced future for the UAE,” according to the statement.

Related: Masdar City & UAE Space Agency introduce business package for startups, SMEs

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