Mobily and Ooredoo pledge US$2.2b for ITU Partner2Connect projects

Details: John Tanner; Category: Humanitarian Comms; 03 March 2026; 25773 views

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced at Mobile World Congress 2026 on Monday that Saudi telco Mobily and Qatar-based Ooredoo Group have made fresh pledges for its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition to bridge the digital divide, bringing total commitments to the coalition to over US$82 billion.

During a keynote address on Monday, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin said that Mobily has committed to invest US$1.715 billion in data centres, subsea cables, and 5G and next-generation network infrastructure under the Partner2Connect programme.

Mobily aims to scale Saudi Arabia’s AI and cloud computing capabilities, enabling “competitive, resilient, and future-ready national development and meaningful global collaboration”, which also aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 aspirations towards becoming a hub connecting east and west.

Meanwhile, Ooredoo Group will invest US$500 million in subsea and terrestrial optical fibre infrastructure, aiming to expand high-capacity connectivity across the MENA region, strengthening regional and international digital links and supporting inclusive economic growth through resilient, future-ready network infrastructure.

Bogdan-Martin said the commitments directly support the ITU's goal of achieving universal, meaningful connectivity – ensuring everyone has access to affordable, reliable Internet and the skills to use it safely and effectively.

“Today's milestone shows what's possible when we pool our collective resources towards making connectivity universal and meaningful," she said. “Reaching US$82 billion in pledges through Partner2Connect means unlocking life-changing opportunities for hundreds of millions of people that are still offline."

The ITU launched Partner2Connect in 2021 as a mobilization platform to rally commitments from governments, the private sector, and civil society for projects and investments that support connectivity and digital inclusion – particularly in the world's most remote communities. Since its launch, Partner2Connect has secured over 1,000 pledges from 149 countries, featuring investments in digital infrastructure, policy modernization, capacity-building initiatives, and innovative technologies designed to connect the hardest-to-reach populations.

The ITU estimates that achieving universal, meaningful connectivity by 2030 could require between US$2.6 trillion to US$2.8 trillion. Bogdan-Martin called on the public and private sectors to scale up their commitments through Partner2Connect.