Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced the initiation of their strategic engagement on the ground breaking Energy City Qatar (ECQ) project, tagged the ‘city with a brain’. In conjunction with a team of other global technology partners led by Accelerator Technology Holdings, Cisco will identify and design advanced technology solutions to create the infrastructure required to support the $2.6 billion regional energy hub in Qatar’s Lusail development.
A team of over 30 technology experts from across Cisco’s global offices will work around the clock to complete and handover the technology blueprint to implementation teams within the stipulated timeframe. Cisco will provide specialist services for Internet related projects, including the design and creation of the city’s connected real estate framework, IT infrastructure network and IT and technology based products, services and operations. One of the world’s largest Internet Protocol (IP) enabled projects, Energy City Qatar will provide sophisticated office facilities for gas and oil producers, service, infrastructure and downstream companies, located alongside specialist technical and service facilities.
CEO of Energy City Qatar Bob Moore added, “We highly value Cisco’s partnership in building a leading business and technology experience across a world class energy city. As the Middle East’s hub for energy business expertise Energy City Qatar must deliver access to the highest possible standards of connectivity and efficiency. Cisco’s proven expertise and ingenuity will help us to make this a reality.”
“We are delightful to be part of a prestigious project such as Energy City Qatar. The announcement today is a manifestation of a successful partnership relationship between two leading organizations that share the vision of working devotedly to help better people’s lives and experiences,” ” said Samer Al Kharrat, General Manager of Cisco Gulf.
“Following the detailed definition of the business needs of the city’s occupants, establishing the IT infrastructure is the next and most critical component of the project.” added Khalid Al Khudayri, Chief Technical Officer of Energy City. “Not only will it enable the city to connect and function with other global industry hubs but it will accommodate all the IT based business solutions and service providers which together make Energy City Qatar a unique facility for the energy industry. The IT infrastructure is the cornerstone on which we will build the energy city of the 21st century.”
A project of this scale requires high levels of collaboration from leading technology companies. Driving this effort on behalf of Energy City Qatar is Accelerator Technology Holdings which has brought together global technology leaders to partner Energy City Qatar to deliver its design of the city’s service offerings and technology master plan.
“Energy City Qatar is unique in how its developers are leveraging technology to deliver an ecosystem that provides the most innovative corporate, commercial, and residential services to all of the city’s stakeholders.” added Fayez Husseini, Vice President, Accelerator Technology Holdings. “Through Energy City Qatar, a new standard is being set, one where technology-enabled services are the differentiators for investors and businesses choosing their regional base.”
“The impact Energy City will have on the Middle East, as well as the global energy industry, will be felt by the overwhelming level of intelligence that will preside the City tenants’ daily lives in every aspect that will have an impact their productivity, effectiveness and efficiency,” concluded Wayne Hull, Country Manager, Cisco South Gulf
As a component in the economic vision of His Highness The Emir of Qatar and located alongside the future home of Qatar Petroleum, ECQ will become the Middle East’s first integrated energy business centre. It will bring energy industry leadership together in one location, attracting investment from significant global players in the hydrocarbon value chain and leading the development of the hydrocarbon industry. The agreement between Energy City Qatar and Cisco forms part of ECQ’s strategy of creating partnerships with a number of global specialist providers in technology, consultancy and specialist technical service provision.
