Nokia & Mobily extend managed services partnership for 3 years

Alaa Malki, CTO at Mobily.
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Updated 14 February 2021
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Nokia & Mobily extend managed services partnership for 3 years

Mobily and Nokia have extended their managed services partnership by signing a three-year agreement, under which Nokia will manage and maintain the radio and transport networks in Riyadh and other regions.
Nokia has been a managed services partner of Mobily for the past 10 years. The comprehensive managed services partnership will see Nokia supporting a range of operating capabilities that will enable Mobily to offer a superior user experience through improved service and network performance. It will also increase the overall efficiency of the network operation.
Mobily will also leverage Nokia’s Global Delivery Centers (GDC), which will bring uniquely-skilled staff, tools and world-class operational capabilities throughout the managed services scope.
“Nokia’s service delivery excellence will further allow Mobily to focus on expansion and bring new services to the Saudi market,” a statement said.
Alaa Malki, CTO at Mobily, said: “Operational transformation is needed to manage a mix of technologies. Nokia’s global experience in network operations and best practices helps us to be the forerunner in this transformation. Partnership with Nokia marks a new chapter in our collaboration and complements our business objectives. We look forward to further enhancing the end-user experience through continuous improvement of our network quality and service agility.”
Tareq Khalaf, head of the customer team at Nokia, said: “This deal showcases our continued commitment to supporting Mobily’s network at superior quality levels. We are driven to deliver streamlined operations that help our customers respond quickly to fast-changing user demands.”

 

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Nokia & Mobily

Nokia will manage and maintain Mobily’s Riyadh and other radio and transport networks.


25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

Updated 27 December 2025
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25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond. 

The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.

Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts. 

The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies. 

The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment. 

The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development. 

The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored. 

It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track. 

In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.

As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs. 

This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.

The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts. 

The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.