Pioneering new research in Qatar will advance cutting-edge network solutions, from smart stadiums to disaster response systems 

Doha, Qatar: Ooredoo, Qatar University (QU) and Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) today signed a major new research agreement to support innovation and development in Qatar and across the wider region.

To ensure the most positive results for future technology in Qatar, the ground-breaking agreement will support research in key areas, including fast deployable wireless communication systems for disaster and emergency response; innovations of green radio access technologies in wireless communications; tele-health and applications; wireless communications for next-generation power grids; and stadium communications.

In particular, the studies will examine areas that will have a positive social, economic and educational impact on the wider community.

As well as providing support for students and researchers seeking to enhance their understanding of these developing fields, data generated by the initiative will make an important contribution to wider efforts to make Qatar one of the best-connected countries in the world and a hub for “smart solutions”.

Waleed Al-Sayed, Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, said: “Our commitment to research, development and supporting the education sector is one of the ways that Ooredoo supports innovation and the growth of the knowledge-based economy. By partnering with these globally respected institutions, we are helping place Qatari students at the cutting edge of research and development in the field of wireless communication. Ooredoo’s Supernet has been designed to expand and grow into one of the best in the world, and we will share the lessons from its implementation with our academic partners.”

Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham, Qatar University President, said: “Our collaboration with these well-renowned partners will provide our students and researchers with opportunities to enhance their skills towards becoming leaders who will contribute to advancing quality research and development in the field of wireless communication systems. At QU, we are committed to boosting our students’ creativity and innovative talents in various engineering areas. This agreement highlights QU’s commitment to offering its students an inspirational environment to produce cutting-edge smart solutions that will benefit Qatari society and beyond. It also underlines the organization’s ongoing efforts to promote a better understanding of network technology at a time when Qatar is aiming to become a hub for smart solutions and one of the best-connected countries in the world.”

Dr. Ann Kenimer, Texas A&M at Qatar Interim Dean and Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are committed to enabling students to lead the next generation of engineering discovery, and collaborations such as this give us the platform to inspire our students. In today’s world, next-generation wireless networks are providing the foundation for a new range of smart solutions that transform homes, communities and even nations. This research partnership will make a significant contribution to global understanding of network technology, as Qatar continues to build its position as a worldwide communication hub.”

Ooredoo’s sponsorship will provide the opportunity for QU and Texas A&M at Qatar students to be exposed to the telecom industry and be engaged in real-world experiences during their academic studies in preparation for their future careers.

The sponsorship was also designed to foster research and development in Qatar and contribute towards the country’s development and technological advancement. By inviting students to participate, Ooredoo hopes to produce the country’s future leaders who are equipped with hands-on knowledge of next-generation technology such as 5G and even faster networks.

The agreement is the latest in a long history of collaborations between the three institutions, the most notable being the 2005 and 2008 agreement for collaborative research into third-generation (3G) and fourth-generation (4G) networks, and HSPA-LTE (High Speed Packet Access-Long Term Evolution) for next-generation networks, technologies and services, and research and development, which was the first of its kind in the Middle East. 

This sponsorship reflects Ooredoo’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, which places education and entrepreneurship as part of the company’s main pillars of focus.