New R&D Center in Riyadh to Localize Telecom Tech

A new research and development center opened in الرياض in 2026 to build AI-powered network automation and orchestration software for telecommunications networks, in a step described as "Made in Saudi" technology. The center is the company's first R&D facility in the Kingdom, established in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

The software is developed locally for use by communications service providers and enterprises inside Saudi Arabia and abroad. The center specializes in Service Management and Orchestration (SMO), Self-Organizing Networks (SON), Autopilot, and rApps, with the aim of making telecom networks more autonomous, boosting performance, and lowering energy consumption.

Its AI-driven capabilities are designed to help networks self-configure, self-heal, and optimize performance while running with greater energy efficiency. The team is also exploring AI-native 6G technologies. the developed technologies aim to reduce telecom network energy costs by roughly 10–15% and cut space and energy requirements in AI data center networks by around 30%.

Why it matters

The initiative forms part of a broader Made in Saudi localization agenda that links locally developed software and AI solutions with technology that can be exported from the Kingdom. It supports the digital economy and local content goals of رؤية السعودية 2030, positioning Saudi Arabia as a base for technology with global export potential in telecom and AI networks.

Operations at the Riyadh center are being ramped up during LEAP 2026, alongside active recruitment and training of Saudi talent. This includes training at international facilities before staff return to work in الرياض, helping build a homegrown workforce in advanced telecommunications and AI.

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