Ooredoo partners with Snap to develop advanced AR experiences for its customers

Ooredoo Group, a telco operating across the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia, has announced a strategic partnership with Snap that will enable the use of advanced augmented reality (AR) technology to enhance its customer experience.

The three-year partnership is a first-of-its-kind in the region and will see the two entities collaborate to build advanced AR – including 5G-enabled AR – experiences for Ooredoo customers across its 10 operating companies, powered by Ooredoo’s network.

Ooredoo Group will leverage Snap’s community platforms such as Snapchat, and its diversity of creator tools, to build on its commitment to technology, innovation and the digital elevation of arts and culture and enhance the experiences on offer to its customers.

Many of these experiences will centre around key cultural and social moments. The partnership will see Ooredoo and Snap work together on the upcoming major sporting event being held in Qatar in 2022, for which Ooredoo is a major network provider. Plans include blending the physical and digital world through AR to create engaging, shareable fan experiences for the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to descend upon the country. 

“This is a first-of-its-kind collaboration for the region, a milestone of which we are rightly proud, and which aligns perfectly with our strategic aim of digital transformation,” said Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulla Al Thani, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo Qatar. “Our partnership with Snap Inc. will enable us to develop innovative 5G services that will enrich our customers’ digital experiences and make them enjoy the internet even more. We are very excited about what our future together holds and cant wait to roll out the coolest activities across our markets.”

Ooredoo Kuwait and Ooredoo Qatar have already initiated projects in collaboration with Snapchat, with roll-out expected in Q4 2021 and Q1 2022. As part of its collaboration with the National Museum of Qatar, Ooredoo is also planning a range of innovative AR activations with Snap, leveraging the power of 5G mobile connectivity, to go live at on-site exhibits.