The past year has seen a key geographic trend in the world of networking: the growing importance of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and services. In the latest example of this trend, UAE telecommunications company e& has embarked on a strategic project with energy and petrochemical group ADNOC to build what is said to be the largest private 5G wireless network in the energy industry.
ADNOC, which is fully owned by Abu Dhabi, has the goal of maximizing the value of the emirate’s hydrocarbon reserves through what it calls “responsible and sustainable” exploration and production in order to support the UAE’s economic growth and diversification plans.
Overall, the network spans an area of 11,000 square kilometres and is designed to provide high-bandwidth 5G connectivity across ADNOC’s onshore and offshore operations.
Once complete, the 5G network will relay information from sensors embedded in over 12,000 oil wells and pipelines to an autonomous control room, helping to make real-time recommendations to extend the life of these assets and ensure the safety of the field. The network will also enable the digitization of oil wells, providing end-to-end visibility into operations, thereby improving productivity across the company’s value chain.
e& said all this will enable ADNOC to further integrate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) services in its most remote facilities, helping to reduce costs through automation, improve efficiency, minimise emissions and increase employee safety.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2025 and is expected to generate $1.5 billion (Dh5.5 billion) in value over the first five years of operation by promoting autonomous operations, optimizing production and reducing emissions.
The company said the strategic partnership will ensure secure and reliable digital infrastructure as ADNOC aims to become the world’s most artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled energy company.
Jassem Mohammed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, chairman of e&, said: “e&’s collaboration with ADNOC will enable the creation of a cutting-edge private 5G network, underscoring our commitment to leveraging technology to drive a sustainable and intelligent transformation in the energy sector.”
“Connectivity is the foundation of technological advancements and we are leveraging our expertise as pioneers in networks and AI innovation to drive breakthroughs in the energy sector and facilitate progress and success across the industry. Beyond this partnership, we will continue to work with ADNOC and other leading companies across multiple sectors to set new industry standards and redefine what’s possible.”
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, said: “This ground-breaking project with e& marks a monumental step in ADNOC’s journey to become the world’s most AI-powered energy company. As global demand for both energy and AI grows, investing in cutting-edge connectivity across our operations will ensure we can continue to deliver safe, reliable and responsible energy to our customers.”
“As we grow our diversified energy portfolio, this strategic partnership will create value, enabling faster, smarter decisions from the control room to the boardroom, future-proofing our operations and keeping our employees and environment safe.”
