DAWIYAT, a subsidiary of Saudi Electricity Company, signed a Letter of Intent with Mobile Telecommunication Company Saudi Arabia (Zain) in order to cooperate in the utilization of the SEC's fiber-optic network by Zain Saudi Arabia, mutual marketing of both companies' services, and providing new locations to establish telecommunication towers and infrastructure. Eng. Ziyad Bin Mohammed Al-Shiha, President and CEO of Saudi Electricity Company, and Hassan Kabbani, Chief Executive Officer at Zain Saudi Arabia, signed the agreement. Ahmed Aljogaiman, Chairman of Dawiyat, and Dr. Ahmed Sindi, Dawiyat Chief Executive Officer, as well as many executives from Saudi Electricity Company and Zain Saudi Arabia attended the signing. Eng. Al-Shiha said "this cooperation between Dawiyat and Zain Saudi Arabia should lead to us offering smart solutions through data services in the Kingdom following a mutually feasibility study, in addition to supporting the digital infrastructure of the electric grid, especially the ‘Internet of Things' applications, subject to viable commercial conditions and appropriate approvals." Eng. Al-Shiha added: "Hopefully, this LOI will open new horizons in the cooperation between both Companies. With its experience and infrastructure, Zain Saudi Arabia is a reliable telecommunications and information technology partner, allowing it to provide the latest services in the industry. We also hope that this will be the start of a new era of investments and joint projects, enabling the telecom sector to make use the SEC's abilities through Dawiyat." Kabbani said "Zain is considering all available options of partnership to provide the best services to its customers, following the high order to grant the company a ‘unified license' to provide all telecom services. This cooperation will support the company's transformation plan and enhance our position in market." Kabbani added "this partnership is in line with the Kingdom's 2030 vision, and the global trend in terms of the cooperation between power and telecommunications sectors to utilize from both infrastructures. The abilities of SEC enable us to build a sustainable partnership." Dr. Sindi said "this agreement is a very important step in Dawiyat's strategy to partner with strategic and qualified companies such as Zain Saudi Arabia, to take advantage of the huge fiber-optic network deployed around the Kingdom. Dawiyat aims to facilitate the utilization of the network by telecom companies to better serve the sector." Dawiyat obtained a License early this year to provide telecom through a fiber-optic network which is considered one of the largest and latest networks in the region. Thus strengthen the telecommunication sector in the Kingdom and enabling companies to benefit from 51,000 kilometers of fiber optics covering more than 13,000 town and village. In addition, GCC Electric Connection Network and the international Electric Connection supported with fiber optic.
