Ooredoo Group announced a strategic alliance with Iron Mountain, an international communications Company. The partnership will enable Ooredoo to expand its MENA footprint of hyperscale and AI data centre infrastructure, combining the strength of the company’s local development and operational track record with Iron Mountain’s global operating expertise.
The Iron Mountain will also acquire a minority equity stake in Ooredoo’s carrier-neutral data center entity, MENA Digital Hub.
The transaction is subject to customary closing procedures. Moelis & Company acted as the exclusive financial advisor, and Baker McKenzie as the legal advisor to Ooredoo Group. A&O Shearman acted as legal advisor to Iron Mountain.
Iron Mountain will provide MENA Digital Hub with specialized advice in the design, construction, and daily operations of data centers to meet evolving global demands. The initial phase of this teamwork will prioritize operational support, infrastructure optimization, and bolstering MENA Digital Hub’s plans for capacity expansion within critical MENA markets.
The investment by Iron Mountain into Ooredoo’s data center platform is a testament to the growing attractiveness of the MENA region for digital infrastructure with superior growth driven by cloud services and AI and the ability to leverage globally differentiated access to power and governmental support. The platform will be uniquely positioned to further capitalize on its existing infrastructure to capture an increasing share of the fast-expanding demand while ensuring continuous compliance with local and international regulations.
Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Group CEO, Ooredoo, commented: “We are excited to work with Iron Mountain, leveraging their deep expertise in hyperscaler data centers to enhance MENA Digital Hub’s capabilities and drive the growth of AI-enabler data centers in the region. This partnership will provide the strategic support needed to optimize operations, accelerate infrastructure development, and scale our platform to meet the growing demand of blue-chip customers and major organizations across the region.”
Also Read: Ooredoo Qatar and Tech Mahindra sign agreement for Managed Security ServicesBill Meaney, President and CEO of Iron Mountain, commented: “We are delighted to partner with Ooredoo and support the burgeoning digital transformation in the MENA region. This alliance strengthens our data center business and demonstrates our commitment to investing in the region’s future. We see immense potential in the MENA market and are excited to leverage our expertise to drive innovation and growth alongside Ooredoo.”
As part of its strategic concept, it focus on the core and monetise the digital infrastructure demand in the region, Ooredoo established MENA Digital Hub last year to pioneer the region’s digital transformation by providing cutting-edge colocation services to hyperscalers and enterprises.
Sunita Bottse, the CEO of the MENA Digital Hub, said: “This strategic collaboration enables MENA Digital Hub to leverage Iron Mountain’s deep expertise alongside Ooredoo’s market strength, reinforcing our ability to meet the escalating demand for reliable and scalable data centers across key markets in the region. It also enhances the value we deliver to both new and existing customers, solidifying our position as a key enabler of digital infrastructure growth.”
Late last year, Ooredoo raised QAR 2 billion in bank financing to accelerate the growth of its data center and AI business, enabling a significant expansion of capacity and the modernization of its data centers.
