Ooredoo Joins MIT Media Lab to Drive ICT Innovation

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and DOHA, Qatar, May 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Ooredoo has announced a new collaboration with the world-renowned MIT Media Lab, in order to drive cutting-edge ICT innovation and research.

Since 1985, the MIT Media Lab has pioneered unconventional research in the ICT sector to radically improve people's daily lives. Ooredoo joins the MIT Media Lab as a Consortium Lab Member.

Dr. Nasser Marafih, Group CEO, Ooredoo, said: "ICT is rapidly converging, and our customers in emerging markets are quickly adopting mobile devices and integrating ICT into every aspect of their daily lives. By joining the MIT Media Lab, we will be able to leverage innovative research from one of the world's leading institutes to deliver disruptive innovations and new life-enhancing products and services to our customers.  In addition, Ooredoo is committed to work with the MIT Media Lab in facilitating and supporting the development of a larger innovation ecosystem in MENA and Southeast Asia."

Through its work with the research laboratory, Ooredoo will look to amplify innovative thinking developed in the MIT Media Lab, engage with researchers, and access member events to view new MIT research. It will also increase its efforts to share intellectual property rights on technology developed through the collaboration.

Joi Ito, director of the MIT Media Lab, said: "We welcome Ooredoo as a member of the MIT Media Lab and look forward to collaborating on innovative technologies that have the potential to impact millions of people around the world."

Ooredoo is a consistent supporter of innovation across its footprint in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia.

In recent years, the company has supported initiatives to develop a new generation of solar-powered compact base stations, launched a wide range of mobile value-added services such as mobile money and mobile health, and enabled entrepreneurs and new start-ups through its ICT-related incubation programmes.

The MIT Media Lab counts more than 70 global members across the fields of electronics, entertainment, health, and telecommunications. Faculty, research staff, and students work across 25 research groups on more than 350 projects including innovative digital interfaces, holographic TV, robotics, femto-photography, and innovative modes of transportation for sustainable cities.

About Ooredoo

Ooredoo is a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. As a community-focused company, Ooredoo is guided by its vision of enriching people's lives and its belief that it can stimulate human growth by leveraging communications to help people achieve their full potential. Ooredoo has a presence in markets such as Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Palestine, the Maldives, Myanmar and Indonesia. The company was named "Best Mobile Operator of the Year" at the World Communication Awards 2013.

The company reported revenues of US$9.3 billion in 2013 and had a consolidated global customer base of more than 95 million people as of 31 December 2013. Ooredoo's shares are listed on the Qatar Exchange and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

Twitter: @Ooredoo
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SOURCE Ooredoo