Smart Infrastructure MENA

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has officially opened the world's largest Solar Park in Dubai - which will generate clean and renewable energy that according to officials involved in the project will ultimately pave the way for a more ‘stable electricity tariff rate' in the long run. The second phase of the park was inaugurated by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The inauguration ceremony coincided with the International Day of Happiness - and the innovative Solar Park reflects a new era in the excellence and leadership of the UAE.

Our cities are changing. With growing populations and increasing urbanization from rural communities and international relocation, governments are re-evaluating how they will manage their resources and engage their citizens in the future. The burgeoning use of smart devices is also demanding a rethink from city planners. How they can make the best use of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and the anticipated 5G ultra broadband to create smarter solutions for our cities across areas such as:

Road and Transport Authority (RTA) have begun trialing smart signals technology in an effort to ensure a safe crossing for pedestrians and reduce the number of accidents in Dubai. The RTA have begun conducting tests and the sensor-based light system was installed by RTA on Al Saada Street, which is located in the densely-populated area close to Dubai's financial district.

The SEA-ME-WE 5 Consortium announced the completion of the 20,000-kilometer subsea cable infrastructure developed by a 16-nation consortium. The SEA-ME-WE 5 subsea cable system, spanning over 16 countries from Southeast Asia to Western Europe, is a technological breakthrough which marks a global communications milestone. It is designed with a capacity of 24 Terabits per second on 3-fibre pairs, fully capable of accommodating the future demand of data from other bandwidth-intensive applications.

In preparation for the mega sports events Qatar is set to host, and which are set to attract millions of visitors, the country is rapidly developing public-private partnerships for the construction of connected stadiums and the enhancement of national team competitiveness, youth development, technology and communications infrastructure.