Splash247: AD Ports lays digital foundations for AI-powered port operations

Published by Splash247

AD Ports Group has taken another step in its digital transformation drive, completing the rollout of a high-capacity communications network that links key ports, terminals and logistics facilities across Abu Dhabi.

Developed in partnership with telecommunications provider e&, the new terrestrial digital backbone stretches more than 1,000 km and is designed to support artificial intelligence applications, automation and real-time operational decision-making across the group’s expanding infrastructure network.

The system connects major maritime and logistics assets through a high-bandwidth, low-latency network capable of continuously transmitting large volumes of operational data, including sensor readings, video streams and Internet of Things (IoT) information.

According to the companies, the upgraded infrastructure creates the digital foundation required for machine learning applications and automated processes that rely on rapid data analysis and near-instant responses.

For ports and logistics operators, access to real-time operational intelligence is becoming increasingly important as companies seek to improve cargo handling efficiency, optimise asset utilisation and strengthen supply chain visibility.

Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, managing director and group chief executive of AD Ports Group, said digital intelligence would play a growing role in shaping global trade and supply chain resilience.

The latest deployment forms part of a wider programme to modernise the group’s technology infrastructure as it expands both domestically and internationally.

The terrestrial network has been engineered to provide ultra-low latency connectivity, allowing AI systems to process operational information and generate insights within milliseconds. Such capabilities are expected to support future applications ranging from predictive maintenance and automated monitoring to advanced traffic and cargo management systems.

Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, group chief executive of e& and chief executive of e& UAE, said advanced connectivity had become a critical requirement for major industrial and logistics hubs seeking to scale operations and deploy more sophisticated automation technologies.

The project also strengthens the resilience of AD Ports Group’s communications infrastructure by combining terrestrial connectivity with other digital systems already being deployed across its operations.

Last year, the Abu Dhabi-listed group began rolling out Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity across its global network to improve real-time communications with vessels and ensure uninterrupted connectivity at ports and terminals. The new terrestrial backbone is designed to work alongside those satellite services and existing radio communications networks, creating a multi-layered system capable of maintaining data flows even during disruptions.

By integrating fibre, wireless and satellite communications into a single architecture, AD Ports is seeking to build a more resilient digital platform capable of supporting increasingly data-intensive operations as automation and AI become more deeply embedded in the maritime and logistics sectors.