Ooredoo, QU and Tamuq in pact for research project

Ooredoo has partnered with Qatar University (QU) and Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq) for a three-year, $650,000 research project to support innovation and development in the country and across the region.
At the agreement-signing yesterday, Ooredoo Qatar CEO Waleed al-Sayed said they would support a range of projects that will be conducted by groups of students and researchers selected by the two universities.
These include fast deployable wireless communication systems for disaster and emergency response, innovations of green radio access technologies in wireless communications, tele-health and applications, wireless communications for next-generation power grids and stadium communications.
The result of this initiative is  expected to make a significant contribution in making Qatar one of the best-connected countries in the world and a hub for “smart solutions”, according to al-Sayed.
“This major research partnership will provide important  insights for the people of Qatar and will  support our young students on their academic journey,” he said.
Ooredoo has been collaborating with QU and Tamuq on several  projects from 2005 that include research into third-generation (3G), fourth-generation (4G) networks, and HSPA-LTE (high-speed packet access/long-term evolution) for next-generation networks, technologies and services which was the first-of-its-kind in the Middle East.  
“We are prioritising research projects that have a social, economic, and educational impact on the wider community,” al-Sayed noted.
“By partnering with these globally respected institutions, we are helping place Qatari students at the cutting edge of research and development in the field of wireless communication,” he added.
Ooredoo will  build two entertainment zones at QU and Tamuq as part of the project which will be called “Ooredoo Majils”. The zones will provide a set of services such as television, entertainment, digital gaming and Wi-Fi connectivity for students.
QU president Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham echoed al-Sayed’s statement, saying the latest agreement with Tamuq and Ooredoo highlighted their ongoing efforts to promote a better understanding of network technology.
He believes such research projects inspire their students to produce cutting-edge smart solutions that will benefit the Qatari society.
“Our collaboration with these well-renowned partners will provide our students and researchers with opportunities to enhance their skills towards becoming leaders who will contribute to advancing quality research and development in the field of wireless communication systems,” al-Derham said.
Tamuq interim dean and chief operating officer Dr Ann Kenimer stressed the importance of academic and industry partnerships “which cannot be underestimated”.
She said such research partnership will have a tremendous individual impact on students by giving them a real-world engagement with the telecom industry.
“In today’s world, next-generation wireless networks are providing the foundation for a new range of smart solutions that transform homes, communities and even nations,” Dr Ann Kenimer noted. “A number of these solutions will be green and sustainable.”
Ooredoo hopes to produce the country’s future leaders who are equipped with hands-on knowledge of next-generation technology such as 5G and even faster networks.