Saudi Arabia’s telecom companies are moving beyond traditional connectivity as demand grows for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity and data centres, according to a recent discussion featuring Salam’s business chief.
Abdullah Al-Kharami, CEO of business at Salam, said on the Argaam OnPoint programme that connectivity services are essential but offer limited growth, encouraging telecom providers to build digital platforms and services that support customers’ transformation plans.
He said telecom companies are increasingly providing secure connectivity, hosting, data centre capabilities and cybersecurity solutions. They can also help customers adopt new technologies by supplying the required infrastructure and connecting them with suitable technology partners.
AI adoption, Al-Kharami added, requires significant investment in GPUs, data centres, power, cooling and cybersecurity. This creates an opportunity for telecom companies to provide the infrastructure needed to run AI applications, rather than leaving each organisation to build the full system independently.
Al-Kharami also pointed to Saudi Arabia’s clear technology priorities and rapid execution as factors supporting market growth. He said Vision 2030 is influencing investment decisions and strengthening the country’s appeal to international technology companies.
The shift is broadening competition in Saudi Arabia’s telecom sector, with digital infrastructure becoming a larger part of future growth opportunities.
Source: Jawlah
