Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Omantel, the leading integrated telecommunications services provider in the Sultanate, has embarked upon yet another package of smart ICT solutions that leverage the company’s 5G capabilities and have the ability to revolutionise operations in Oman’s oil and gas, logistics and transport sectors, which are vital for the country’s sustainable economic growth.
Omantel and Huawei entered a tri-party Proof of Concept (POC) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hutchison Ports Sohar for showcasing successful utilisations of the telecom giant’s 5G infrastructure in three areas. These POCs, to be implemented at Hutchison Ports Sohar, aim to provide highly reliable communication services and improve operational efficiency, accuracy, time management, and security, among other services.
Talal Said Al Mamari, CEO of Omantel, said, "The overall objective of the POCs is to showcase the capability of our 5G network and how it enhances and streamlines performance of the port operations. These POCs will also highlight 5G for other uses other than in the telecom network. 5G synergised with AI can streamline business operations across multiple sectors. Omantel is proud to leverage its smart solutions that use 5G technology is an important sector like transport and logistics. We are confident that these POCs will be successfully converted into strategic commercial agreements at the end of their evaluation period.’’
“One of Hutchison Ports Sohar’s strategic aim is to become fully automated and engage with customers, stakeholders, and the cargo in the safest and highly efficient manner. We have continuously invested in automated equipment’s and technologically advanced systems and apps for constant service enhancements. Ports are fundamental to Oman’s economy. In the worldwide port and container terminal business, 5G has proven to be one of the crucial future development for automation and smart technologies. We’re pleased to partner with Omantel and Huawei for the 5G PoC study in the terminal equipment and look forward to a solution out of it,” said Anacin Kum, Chief Executive Officer, Hutchison Ports Sohar.”
Robin Chen, CEO of Huawei Oman, noted, “Omantel is a leading ICT service provider in the Middle East region, Hutchison Ports is one of the largest port operators globally and Huawei is a strategic partner of Omantel. It’s our great pleasure to be part of this strong triangle to integrate 5G in Hutchison Ports Sohar Operational Activities. It is believed that 5G can bring significant values and benefits to Sohar port. Moreover, this 5G pilot will open new doors to introduce the technology advancements of 5G helping to reshape and upgrade vertical industries of Oman. This direction serves to create direct and indirect gains to Oman towards 2040."
Under the first POC, work on which will start immediately, Omantel will enable Smart Surveillance with artificial intelligence (AI). Smart solutions under this POC will be mutually beneficial to Omantel and Hutchison Ports Sohar, as it will not only diversify and showcase the use of 5G infrastructure beyond network speed and efficiency but also bring more accountability and streamlining to port’s operations.
The Smart Surveillance with AI will allow real-time surveillance of the port’s loading and unloading transport area, monitor the sea tide, enhance ship container video surveillance, make AI-based intelligent video analysis, allow for AI-enabled unmanned detection and generate an automatic alarm in real-time in case of any default. Other benefits include leveraging AI for HSE compliance and meeting future cost optimisation goals. These technologies can be deployed in other port operation management scenarios and crane management etc.
The two other POCs will enhance the uses of handheld devices (Push to talk) for critical communication and pagers over a 5G network for real-time location monitoring and messaging.
Maintaining its position as the Sultanate’s most trusted ICT and digitisation partner, Omantel will use these POCs as a springboard to further build and diversify its 5G capacities. The MoU is a demonstration of Omantel’s commitment towards its enterprise customers for enabling them to embrace Industry 4.0. and with the guaranteed success of the POCs, create a lasting customer relationship based on its superior ICT infrastructure and efficient service delivery.
