Vodafone Qatar and the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) conducted a two-day “Infrastructure Intelligence Hackathon” in June. The event challenged engineering students to develop prototypes for smart energy, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

Ten teams competed to address challenges in 5G-enabled infrastructure, digital grids, and IoT applications for smart cities. The prototypes were evaluated on technical depth, AI integration, and practical impact. Vodafone engineers and UDST faculty provided technical mentoring throughout the development phase.

The first-place prize was awarded to a team consisting of Rashid Al-Kaabi, Hamad Al-Kuwari, and Ahmad Zaineldin. Other awards were presented for innovation and industry relevance, focusing on solutions that could be applied to Qatar’s national digital transformation goals.

“The hackathon provided a platform for students to apply their skills to practical challenges,” said Abdulhadi Al-Sahli, Head of Media Relations at Vodafone Qatar. He added that the quality of the solutions demonstrated the potential for local talent to contribute to the country’s infrastructure development.