Ooredoo Group has announced the creation of a new standalone entity, Ooredoo Fibre Networks (OFN), aimed at accelerating its international connectivity and submarine cable ambitions. The company also confirmed the appointment of Khalid Hassan Al-Hamadi as Chief Executive Officer of the new unit, effective February 15, 2026, with the carve-out process expected to be finalised by 2027.
Before joining Ooredoo Maldives, Al-Hamadi held senior leadership roles at Ooredoo Qatar and built more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, including positions at Qatargas and General Electric. His background spans operational excellence, transformation initiatives and the execution of large-scale infrastructure projects, positioning him to lead OFN’s next phase of growth.
OFN will act as Ooredoo’s dedicated platform for strategic investments in subsea cable systems and high-capacity terrestrial fibre networks. The move is designed to consolidate the group’s growing portfolio of international connectivity assets under one structure, enabling it to better capture rising global demand for secure, high-performance data routes driven by hyperscalers, cloud providers and artificial intelligence platforms.
Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Group CEO, Ooredoo, said: “International connectivity and subsea infrastructure are already among the most strategic digital assets in the world, and demand is accelerating with AI, cloud, and hyperscale growth. With the formation of OFN, and with Khalid Hassan Al-Hamadi at the helm, we are creating a focused platform to scale our investments in fibre and submarine cables, deliver attractive long-term returns, and cement Ooredoo’s position as a key data gateway between Asia, the Gulf and Europe.”
The formation of OFN sits firmly within Ooredoo’s evolved strategy, RISE, which combines three investment horizons aimed at delivering superior shareholder returns and accelerating the Group’s transformation into a leading digital infrastructure
Aziz added: “This is a core pillar of our RISE strategy. We have set a clear ambition to grow our international infrastructure and subsea cable business from 3% to 12% of Group revenues over time, reflecting the scale of the opportunity in global data and AI traffic flows.”
The group is currently developing one of the largest subsea cable and transport fibre networks in the GCC, including the FIG subsea cable project in partnership with Alcatel Submarine Networks. Spanning around 1,900 km, the system is part of a broader push to establish a new regional connectivity corridor offering an alternative to legacy routes and strengthening Ooredoo’s position within global data traffic flows.
Al-Hamadi brings extensive operational and strategic leadership experience across Ooredoo’s markets. He most recently served as managing director and CEO of Ooredoo Maldives, where he led digital transformation efforts including expanded 5G coverage, broader broadband access and the deployment of a new submarine cable to enhance international connectivity. During his tenure, the company delivered record revenue and net profit performance and earned international recognition, including a Guinness World Record for hosting the largest underwater panel discussion.
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