
Salam signs agreement with Syria's Ministry of Communications and Technology to expand digital infrastructure and foster regional integration
The MoU outlines plans to explore establishing IP Points of Presence (IP Nodes PoPs) in Damascus and Aleppo, enabling Salam to provide high-reliability local and international Tier-1 connectivity. This will support the broader goals of digital transformation and technological development in Syria. Salam's participation in the forum underscores its commitment to enhancing regional digital and knowledge integration and applying global best practices in telecommunications and ICT. Since 2005, the company has leveraged its experience and achievements to solidify its leadership in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East.
During his speech at the forum, His Excellency Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih highlighted the collaborative efforts between Saudi Arabia and Syria in telecommunications and ICT. He also extended his gratitude to His Excellency Abdulsalam Haykal, Minister of Communications and Technology in Syria, for maintaining close dialogue with Saudi companies. He stated: 'Our joint efforts aim to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities and develop advanced systems in programming, artificial intelligence, data centres, and educational academies in Syria. The estimated value of these investment agreements is approximately SAR 4 billion.'
Commenting on the occasion, Abdullah AlRufaidi, Vice President of Wholesale and Carrier Relations at Salam, said: 'Our participation in the forum reflects Salam's commitment to advancing regional cooperation, innovation, and digital transformation. By drawing on our successful business model in Saudi Arabia, we aim to deliver scalable, reliable telecom services that empower Syria's digital infrastructure and economic growth.'
This initiative aligns with the Kingdom's broader vision to promote regional digital integration, enhance infrastructure readiness, and drive sustainable technological advancement through impactful partnerships. It reflects the leadership's commitment to fostering deeper cooperation with the Syrian Arab Republic, advancing strategic collaborations in technology and economics, and building a foundation for stronger bilateral ties based on innovation and shared development.
About Etihad Salam Telecom Company
Etihad Salam Telecom Company is one of the leading national companies in Saudi Arabia's telecommunications and information technology sector. Recognized as the Kingdom's fastest-growing and most innovative telecom brand, Salam has operated one of the region's most established telecom networks since 2005.
The company provides cutting-edge ICT solutions for businesses, government entities, and carriers locally and internationally, along with fixed and mobile services supporting Saudi Arabia's digital transformation. As a key enabler of Saudi Vision 2030, Salam offers advanced telecommunications, cloud computing, data centers, and digital infrastructure. Its subsidiaries, Salam Mobile Telecom Company and Technical Links Services (TLS) ensure the delivery of innovative solutions and seamless connectivity across the Kingdom.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
16 minutes ago
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia's National Signage Industrial to float 20% in August Nomu IPO
National Signage Industrial Company will start selling 20% of its capital through an IPO on the Nomu-Parallel Market from mid-August. The offering period for 1.5 million shares will begin on August 17 and will end on August 24 for qualified investors, Yaqeen Capital, the financial advisor and lead manager on the potential offering, said in a statement to the Saudi stock exchange on Monday. In March, the Saudi Exchange and the Capital Market Authority (CMA) had approved the company's IPO application. (Editing by Seban Scaria


Gulf Business
an hour ago
- Gulf Business
New report reveals 10-point drop in AI readiness in EMEA
Image: Pexels ServiceNow, the AI platform for business transformation, has released the latest edition of its The study evaluates enterprise readiness across five critical components: leadership and strategy, workflows, talent, governance, and investment. These indicators collectively assess how well-prepared organisations are to scale AI effectively. Now in its second year, the global report surveyed nearly 4,500 respondents worldwide, including 1,950 from nine markets in Europe and the Middle East — including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. While emerging technologies such as agentic AI are driving experimentation and delivering early results, the region's AI maturity score dropped from 44 to just 34 out of 100. This decline reflects growing challenges in turning innovation into structured, large-scale deployments. Cathy Mauzaize, president, EMEA at ServiceNow 'Organisations across Europe and the Middle East are accelerating their AI projects, but many are still in the early stages of their journey,' said Cathy Mauzaize, president, EMEA at ServiceNow. 'They recognise the potential and now is the time to build on that energy. To keep moving forward, organisations are exploring how to lay the right foundations to make the data work for them, and give their people the skills to use AI with confidence. According to IDC, European spending on artificial intelligence will reach $144.6bn in 2028. The opportunity is huge, but only if we focus on getting the basics right today.' Key findings from the report AI growth is outpacing enterprise readiness Nearly half (47 per cent) of companies in Europe and the Middle East reported launching more than 100 AI use cases in the past year. In the UAE, 49 per cent of organisations reported similar activity. However, most are still in early implementation phases. Just 6 per cent of organisations in the region have reached the most advanced AI stage — augmentation. In the UAE, 9 per cent have reached that milestone, and the country shares the highest AI maturity score (35) in the region with the UK. Agentic AI is an emerging opportunity, with a knowledge gap Agentic AI — which enables autonomous actions — is beginning to reshape automation strategies across the enterprise. Yet understanding remains low. Only 15 per cent of organisations in Europe and the Middle East are currently using agentic AI, and 42 per cent expect to implement it within the next year. However, just one in five organisations are 'very familiar' with the technology, highlighting a knowledge gap. Still, the potential is evident: among early adopters, 58 per cent saw improved gross margins, 59 per cent gained greater efficiency and productivity, and 60 per cent reported enhanced user experiences. Read: Governance remains a weak link As adoption increases, so do risks tied to privacy, cybersecurity, and regulation. In the UAE, organisations making 'significant strides' in AI data governance rose modestly from 42 per cent in 2024 to 45 per cent in 2025. Yet data security continues to be the top concern blocking AI progress. To address these issues, the report stresses that AI governance should be embedded from the outset. Platforms need to integrate oversight, accountability, and strategy — particularly when exploring advanced technologies like agentic AI.


Broadcast Pro
an hour ago
- Broadcast Pro
MBC Group partners with Netflix to offer unified streaming experience in MENA
The newly created bundle will combine Netflix and Shahid in addition to MBC's linear TV channels, under one single subscription. MBC Group has announced a partnership with global streaming giant Netflix, marking the first collaboration of its kind for Netflix in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This alliance will see Netflix's full streaming service integrated into MBCNOW, the recently launched content aggregator platform by MBC Group, offering users a seamless entertainment experience. The new subscription bundle merges Netflix with Shahid, MBC's Arabic streaming platform, and the Group's array of linear TV channels into a single, convenient package. This offering brings together two major streaming platforms under one roof for the first time in the region, promising to deliver a mix of content that appeals to families across Saudi Arabia, the Gulf and the broader Arab world. Fadel Zahreddine, Group Director of Emerging Media at MBC Group, said: 'This groundbreaking partnership is one for the books. To have two streaming giants – Shahid and Netflix – come together under one platform is something never seen before in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and wider MENA, and we're very excited for what's to come.' Bhanu Chaddha, Director of Distribution and TV Products at MBC Group, added: 'We're thrilled to have MBC Group join forces with Netflix to bring its content to our audiences under the convenience of a single subscription. This collaboration is part of our ongoing commitment to provide unparalleled global and local experiences for our audiences in the region. This is definitely the future of streaming and content consumption.' Mohammed Al Kuraishi, Head of Business Development and Partnerships, Middle East and Africa at Netflix stated: 'We are delighted to partner with MBC Group to bring our members in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the region easy access to our service and an incredible variety of international and Arabic shows, movies, documentaries, kids content, stand-ups, Live- events, and games. This partnership brings unparalleled entertainment offering to our members and puts them at the heart of the entertainment experience.' Launched in February 2025, MBCNOW was developed to blend traditional broadcast viewing with digital streaming. It consolidates MBC's TV channels and Shahid's Arabic content into a single destination, transforming how Saudi and Arab audiences consume entertainment. With the new Netflix partnership, MBCNOW now offers a bundled 'Shahid + Netflix Pack,' delivering a vast catalogue of Arabic and international series, films, documentaries, children's content, live events and even games. The package offers more than 21% in savings compared to subscribing to the services individually.