Regional Firms and E&A Launch Groundbreaking Sustainability Hackathon Across Gulf Cooperation Council

Gulf Telecom Giants Launch Region's First Sustainability Hackathon to Accelerate Green Innovation

Seven major telecommunications companies across the Gulf Cooperation Council have joined forces to launch the region's first sustainability-focused hackathon, marking a strategic shift toward collaborative environmental innovation in an industry responsible for significant energy consumption. The initiative, spearheaded by the Gulf Sustainability Innovation Center, aims to transform prototypes into region-wide solutions within months rather than years, potentially setting new standards for sustainable telecommunications infrastructure across emerging markets.

Three Critical Challenges Define the Competition

The inaugural hackathon targets three high-impact areas that represent the telecommunications sector's biggest environmental challenges. Participants will compete across AI-powered energy efficiency solutions designed to create smart networks that dramatically reduce power consumption, electronic waste management systems that transform damaged equipment into valuable resources, and renewable energy solutions specifically tailored for cell towers and data centers.

This focus reflects the industry's growing recognition that traditional network operations are incompatible with carbon neutrality goals. Telecommunications infrastructure accounts for approximately 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a figure expected to double by 2030 without intervention.

Regional Collaboration Accelerates Market Impact

Mohamed Al Marzouqi, Senior Vice President of Networks at e& International, emphasized the competitive advantage of unified regional action. "By bringing together the strongest telecommunications companies and best minds in the GCC, we can contribute to transforming prototypes into comprehensive regional changes within months, not years," he stated.

This collaborative approach mirrors successful innovation models seen in Singapore's Smart Nation initiative and the UAE's broader economic diversification strategy. Unlike isolated corporate sustainability programs, the hackathon creates shared standards and procurement frameworks that can scale across 39 subsidiary companies operating in 33 countries.

Strategic Timing Leverages COP28 Momentum

The Gulf Sustainability Innovation Center emerged from commitments made during COP28, positioning the GCC as a leader in climate technology despite its traditional reliance on fossil fuels. The seven-member alliance includes e&, Beyon, du, Ooredoo, Omantel, stc, and Zain, representing the region's telecommunications backbone.

This timing is strategically significant. As global investors increasingly prioritize ESG criteria, telecommunications companies face mounting pressure to demonstrate measurable environmental progress. The hackathon provides a concrete mechanism for innovation while creating competitive differentiation in sustainability leadership.

Market Implications Beyond Environmental Goals

Andrew Donnett, Senior Vice President of Sustainability at e& Group, highlighted the business case: "Sustainable networks represent an additional advantage for improving performance" while providing startups with "a clear path to transition from trial to expansion phase within business portfolios."

This approach addresses a critical gap in cleantech commercialization. Many environmental innovations fail to scale due to fragmented procurement processes and inconsistent quality standards. By unifying requirements across major regional players, the hackathon creates immediate market access for successful solutions.

Competition Timeline Emphasizes Rapid Implementation

The accelerated timeline reflects urgency around climate commitments. Registration closes September 1st, with evaluation occurring September 2-16 by judges representing all participating telecommunications companies. Finalists will present directly in Riyadh from September 14-16, with winners announced September 17th.

This compressed schedule mirrors the venture capital model where rapid iteration and immediate feedback accelerate innovation cycles. The direct presentation format ensures solutions address real operational challenges rather than theoretical concepts.

e& Group's Broader Sustainability Portfolio

For e& Group, this hackathon represents one component of comprehensive climate action. The company has committed to zero carbon emissions in Scopes 1 and 2 by 2030 in the UAE and 2040 across all operations. Recent innovations include the Middle East's first zero-carbon 5G site using Massive MIMO technology, recycled SIM cards, and "Sustainability as a Service" solutions leveraging IoT and AI.

These initiatives position e& Group competitively as enterprises increasingly seek telecommunications partners aligned with their own sustainability goals. The "Sustainability as a Service" offering particularly demonstrates how environmental leadership can create new revenue streams.

Setting Regional Standards for Global Impact

The hackathon's success could establish the GCC as a model for collaborative sustainability innovation in telecommunications. Unlike regulatory mandates that often lag technological possibilities, this industry-led approach can rapidly test and scale solutions across diverse market conditions.

The initiative also creates valuable intellectual property and operational expertise that participating companies can leverage in their international operations, potentially influencing sustainability standards across emerging markets where GCC telecommunications companies maintain significant presence.