Cisco Systems announced recently that it has been selected by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority to help create a Smart Cities Operating Company in the Kingdom. The company will support the building infrastructure and technology-enabled value-added to the country's four economic cities. Significantly, the four cities that Cisco will be advising represent a Saudi investment of more than $60 billion (SR225 billion). Caspar Herzberg, senior director of Cisco's Smart+ Connected Communities, called the opportunity a “very strategic win for Cisco in the region” that will “help to further position Cisco as a leader in the technology sector.” Cisco was first appointed to undertake the design of the network infrastructure and connected city services of King Abdullah Economic City, the single largest private sector development in the region, in early 2008. The company has signed similar agreements with Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Musaed Economic City, Knowledge Economic City, and Jizan Economic City. These projects are designed to attract global information and communications technology firms who want to establish operations and research-and-development facilities. Cisco is also establishing academic centers to help train skilled professionals.
