TELETIMES REPORT
From AI infrastructure and 5G-Advanced to digital twins, venture building and cross-sector transformation, stc group used LEAP 2026 to demonstrate the expanding role of telecommunications in Saudi Arabia’s digital economy.
stc group reinforced its position at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation during LEAP 2026, participating as a Strategic Partner of the event for the fifth consecutive year. Across four days in Riyadh, the group combined technology demonstrations, new partnerships and strategic announcements to highlight an increasingly broad role that extends well beyond traditional telecommunications.
Central to stc’s presence was the rapid development of Saudi Arabia’s artificial intelligence ecosystem. Speaking on LEAP’s Main Stage, stc group CEO Eng. Olayan Alwetaid outlined the group’s partnership with HUMAIN across three areas: data-center infrastructure, connectivity and go-to-market. Through center3, stc is developing AI-ready data-center capacity starting at 250 MW, complemented by its expanding international connectivity footprint across subsea cables, terrestrial networks and satellites.
This infrastructure layer formed the foundation for a much wider showcase of how connectivity, AI, IoT, cloud and data can transform industries. stc presented solutions spanning transportation and logistics, tourism, sports, construction and real estate, demonstrating a strategy increasingly focused on applying digital infrastructure to real-world economic activity.
One of the strongest examples came through stc group’s work with Red Sea Global. Through subsidiary iot squared, the companies demonstrated an intelligent operations platform incorporating a live digital twin covering three Red Sea destinations, including Shura Island and Turtle Bay. The system brings together high-resolution imagery, 3D modelling and live sensor and operational data across approximately 10 square kilometres. Operators can monitor buildings, mobility, environmental conditions and marine environments through a common digital layer, while visitors can ultimately use the technology to explore destinations, plan activities and receive recommendations based on live conditions.
In transportation and logistics, stc showcased its Intermodal Mega Hub concept, illustrating how digital connectivity can better integrate ports, railways, dry ports, logistics zones and industrial areas. Meanwhile, its construction and real-estate solutions demonstrated how digital platforms can support project management, safety, compliance and ongoing operations. Sports applications ranged from digital athlete talent discovery to smart stadium management and connectivity for live broadcasting.
Network innovation remained an important part of the story. On the sidelines of LEAP, stc demonstrated a Zero-Carbon 5G-Advanced site, combining advanced radio technologies and more efficient site architecture to increase network capacity while reducing energy consumption and physical infrastructure requirements. stc said the carbon savings delivered by the approach are equivalent to planting more than 34,000 trees over the coming years. The company is also developing a Tri-Band Meta Active Antenna Unit capable of supporting its three core 5G bands through a single antenna system.
LEAP also provided a platform for stc to expand its global technology partnerships. Agreements and collaborations announced during the event involved companies including AWS, AMD, Ericsson, Huawei, Cisco and Intel, spanning cloud, AI, computing, 5G, data centers and autonomous network operations. Ericsson and stc, for example, signed a multi-year agreement to expand the operator’s 5G network, while the collaboration with Cisco targets L4 autonomous network standards using AI-driven automation.
Beyond infrastructure, stc also focused on creating future digital businesses. The group launched colab, a dedicated innovation and corporate venture-building company designed to identify, develop and scale new digital ventures. colab complements startup accelerator inspireU and investment platform tali ventures, giving stc an integrated model covering acceleration, investment and venture creation. The approach builds on experience such as STC Bank, which evolved from stc pay into a licensed digital bank serving more than eight million customers and generating over SAR 1 billion in revenue in 2025.
Taken together, stc group’s LEAP 2026 participation illustrated the changing definition of a telecom operator. Connectivity remains fundamental, but stc’s ambition increasingly encompasses AI infrastructure, cloud, data centers, digital platforms, sustainability, venture creation and industry-specific transformation.
At LEAP 2026, the message was therefore broader than faster networks or new technology launches: stc is positioning its infrastructure and digital ecosystem as an enabling layer for Saudi Arabia’s next phase of economic development — connecting technology with industries, entrepreneurs and national ambitions as the Kingdom advances toward an increasingly AI-driven economy.
