Zain, in collaboration with GCC Telco Alliance members, including e&, STC, Ooredoo, Beyon, Omantel, and du, and other key regional and international partners, has announced the establishment of the Sustainability Innovation Hub.
This initiative, it said, is driven by the “urgent need to address climate change and expand access to affordable and reliable energy.”
The Sustainability Innovation Hub aims to bridge the gap between technology, telecom innovation, and climate action for a low-carbon economy.
Its primary focus will be to develop and implement innovative power solutions that are cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally friendly, it said.
“By harnessing the power of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, the initiative will enable telecom operators to reduce their reliance on traditional fuel sources and move toward a greener future,” it outlined.
This transition, it said, will result in “substantial long-term cost savings” as well as environmental benefits.
Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for prototyping, testing, and validating innovative power solutions using GCC telecom networks, the hub, it said, aims to accelerate the development cycle and ensure the effective implementation of new technologies within the industry.
The hub will also offer training programs and workshops to enhance the competencies of individuals involved in the design, installation, and maintenance of power solutions within the telecom sector.
It will actively seek collaborations and partnerships with leading industry players, government entities, and regulatory authorities, fostering a supportive ecosystem, for knowledge sharing, best practices, and standardisation.
Jennifer Suleiman, Chief Sustainability Officer of Zain Group, said: “This development is extremely timely. The negative impact of climate change globally is growing more acute over time. Individually, companies such as Zain have been working proactively to reduce the negative impact of our operations on the environment to contribute to a Net-Zero world. However, collaboration across telecom operators and the sectors we interact with, is a much-needed boost in the efforts to reverse the effects of climate change, given the significance of our industry and the impact we can exert on creating value for all our stakeholders and changing people’s lives for the better. We are stronger together.”