logo

Bahrain plugs into global data highway via 2Africa Pearls Cable

Zawya3 days ago
Saudi telecom group stc has announced that the 2Africa cable system - Pearls, the world's longest submarine cable, has successfully landed in Bahrain. This massive $205 million lift up in global connectivity toward Bahrain will reinforce the kingdom as a powerful ICT hub.
Marking a significant milestone in global connectivity, Saudi telecom group stc has announced that the 2Africa cable system - Pearls, the world's longest submarine cable, has successfully landed in Bahrain.
With a $205 million investments in 2Africa Pearls submarine cable system, this massive lift up in international connectivity toward Bahrain will reinforce the kingdom as a powerful ICT hub, speeding up digital transformation across connected countries, attracting significant international investment opportunities, creating jobs and boosting innovation across sectors.
The live landing of 2Africa Pearls submarine cable system next to Seef District was witnessed by Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Telecommunications and Eng. Khalid Al Osaimi, Chief Executive Officer, stc Bahrain.
Spanning 45,000 km with a massive 180 terabits per second design capacity, the 2Africa submarine cable will enable faster adoption of new technologies and digital solutions.
It is the only cable in GCC capable of meeting the growing demands of data-heavy applications, including content streaming, cloud computing, and gaming, it stated.
The landing operation, which involved connecting the on-board cable to the ground infrastructure, was completed in record time.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, said this achievement reflects the kingdom's commitment to strengthening its position as a regional and global digital hub, in line with the goals of Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030.
Dr. Shaikh, expressing pride in Bahrain's advanced telecommunications infrastructure, stated that his ministry remained fully dedicated to fostering fruitful partnerships with the private sector, especially the strategic collaboration with stc Bahrain, which stands as a successful model of public-private synergy in advancing digital transformation.
The landing of the 2Africa Pearls submarine cable in Bahrain represents a qualitative leap that will enhance the kingdom's global connectivity, support its digital economy, and open new horizons for innovation and investment, he added.
stc Bahrain CEO Engineer Khalid Al Osaimi said: "We are thrilled to land the 2Africa Pearls submarine cable in the kingdom. This will increase Bahrain's current connectivity capacity by 10x, further scalable to accommodate future growth."
"This is in line with our commitment to advancing Bahrain's position as a leading communications and digital hub for the region, directly aligning with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030, and its goals for the ICT sector to create a diversified, knowledge-based economy," he added.
With the landing of 2Africa Pearls submarine cable system, the cable's massive capacity and low latency will serve as a catalyst for innovation and growth in emerging technologies like 5G, AI, and IoT, providing the essential infrastructure needed to support data-intensive applications and services.
stc said the increased connectivity will empower businesses with improved communication, access to global markets, and enhanced operational efficiency.
Moreover, for consumers, this transformative project will provide reliable internet services and richer digital experience, it added. -TradeArabia News Service
Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
MANAMA
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) and Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC Bahrain Sign Documentary Credit Insurance Policy to Boost Shariah-Compliant Trade
The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) and Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC Bahrain Sign Documentary Credit Insurance Policy to Boost Shariah-Compliant Trade

Zawya

time3 hours ago

  • Zawya

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) and Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC Bahrain Sign Documentary Credit Insurance Policy to Boost Shariah-Compliant Trade

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) ( a Shariah-based multilateral insurer and member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, and Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC Bahrain signed a Documentary Credit Insurance Policy (DCIP). The policy aims to strengthen support for Shariah-compliant trade finance, enabling greater security and confidence in the international trade ecosystem. The agreement was signed by Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, Chief Executive Officer of ICIEC, and Dr. Adel Salem, Chief Executive Officer of Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC Bahrain, in a joint effort to enhance the capacity of Islamic financial institutions to manage trade-related risks more effectively. Under this partnership, ICIEC will provide insurance coverage for the confirmation of Letters of Credit (LCs) issued by Al Baraka Islamic Bank in connection with the import and export of eligible Shariah-compliant goods and services. This solution will help mitigate payment risks associated with cross-border trade while promoting sustainable growth in ICIEC's member states. Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, CEO of ICIEC, stated: ' This strategic collaboration with Al Baraka Islamic Bank reflects ICIEC's unwavering commitment to advancing intra-OIC trade and investment. By supporting Shariah-compliant trade finance through our Documentary Credit Insurance Policy, we are facilitating secure trade flows while empowering Islamic banks to broaden their offerings to clients. This partnership demonstrates the power of multilateral cooperation in achieving shared development goals.' For his part, Dr. Adel Salem, CEO of Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC Bahrain, stated: ' We are delighted to partner with ICIEC on this pioneering Credit Insurance Policy, which empowers us to extend Shariah‑compliant trade finance to our clients, bolster Bahrain's role as a regional hub for Islamic banking, and stimulate sustainable economic growth across member states worldwide. This collaboration underscores our unwavering commitment to innovation and robust risk management, giving the businesses we serve greater confidence to expand in global markets.' The DCIP serves as a vital tool for Islamic banks, enhancing their ability to expand trade finance operations with reduced exposure to commercial and political risks. The policy also complements ICIEC's broader mandate to promote economic resilience, financial inclusion, and private sector development in member countries. Both institutions reaffirmed their shared dedication to expanding the reach of Islamic finance, strengthening risk mitigation tools, and contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic development. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC). Media Contacts: ICIEC Email: ICIEC-Communication@ Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC Email: marketing@ Follow ICIEC on: X: Facebook: LinkedIn: YouTube: Instagram: About The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC): As a member of 'AAA' rated Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), ICIEC commenced operations in 1994 to strengthen economic relations between OIC Member States and promote intra-OIC trade and investments by providing risk mitigation tools and financial solutions. The Corporation is the only Islamic multilateral insurer in the world. It has led from the front in delivering a comprehensive suite of solutions to companies and parties in its 50 Member States. ICIEC, for the 17 th consecutive year, maintained an "Aa3" insurance financial strength credit rating from Moody's, ranking the Corporation among the top of the Credit and Political Risk Insurance (CPRI) Industry. Additionally, S&P has reaffirmed ICIEC 'AA-' long-term Issuer Credit and Financial Strength Rating for the second year with Stable Outlook. ICIEC's resilience is underpinned by its sound underwriting, global reinsurance network, and strong risk management policies. Cumulatively, ICIEC has insured more than USD 121 billion in trade and investment. ICIEC activities are directed to several sectors - energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture. Website: About Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC: Al Baraka Islamic Bank (AIB) is one of leading financial institutions in the Islamic banking sector within Bahrain. Throughout its history of more than four decades (since its establishment in 1984), the Bank has played a prominent role in building the infrastructure of the Islamic finance industry. The Bank also played a significant role in promoting the Islamic finance industry and publicizing its merits. AIB offers innovative financial products, including investments, international trading, management of short-term liquidity and consumer financing, all of which are all based on Islamic financing modes. Such financing includes Murabaha, Wakala, Istisna, Musharaka, Mudarabah, Salam, and Ijara Muntahia Bittamleek.

Bahrain to announce $17bln in US deals during Trump talks
Bahrain to announce $17bln in US deals during Trump talks

Zawya

time9 hours ago

  • Zawya

Bahrain to announce $17bln in US deals during Trump talks

Bahrain's crown prince is set to announce plans to invest more than $17 billion in the United States during a meeting with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, a White House official said. As part of the investment, Bahrain is expected to sign a deal between Gulf Air and Boeing/GE valued at around $7 billion for 12 aircraft with an option for six more, the official said. The deal also includes the sale of 40 GE engines, the official said. The announcement from Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa comes on the heels of foreign investment deals Trump made during a trip to the Middle East in May. During a visit to Riyadh, Trump secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the United States and agreed to sell the Saudis an arms package worth nearly $142 billion. The White House official said the Bahrain deal will support 30,000 American jobs and was secured with help from Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The crown prince will also commit to deploy additional capital in excess of billions of dollars. Bahrain is expected to be signing deals with Oracle and Cisco, with plans to replace Chinese servers with Cisco products, the official said. Bahrain also seeks to increase its investments in U.S. energy, tech and manufacturing sectors. The official said the crown prince intends to deploy capital to increase U.S. domestic aluminum production, invest in U.S. LNG production to secure BAH energy supplies and purchase cutting edge AI chips partnering with U.S. hyper-scalers. During the visit, the crown prince will announce the kingdom's intention to make these investments and sign various deals and memoranda of understanding. One of these MOUs creates a framework for Bahrain to begin discussions towards developing commercial nuclear capabilities, the official said. Later this year, the king of Bahrain will visit Washington to finalize these agreements and solidify the progress made in building our two nation's economic prosperity, the official said. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Strategic partnership agreement between Orange Jordan and StarLink, the leader in digital transformation
Strategic partnership agreement between Orange Jordan and StarLink, the leader in digital transformation

Zawya

time10 hours ago

  • Zawya

Strategic partnership agreement between Orange Jordan and StarLink, the leader in digital transformation

In a significant step that reaffirms its market leadership in Jordan and strengthens its commitment to driving digital transformation in line with the national digital economy strategy, Orange Jordan announced the signing of a new strategic partnership agreement with StarLink, the leading regional IT solutions distributor based in Dubai, and part of the Infinigate group. This partnership aims to expand Orange Jordan's ICT portfolio and provide the business sector with advanced, secure solutions that meet the demands of the digital era. The agreement was signed in the presence of Orange Jordan CEO Eng. Philippe Mansour, StarLink CEO Mr. Nidal Othman, and representatives from both companies. This partnership embodies Orange Jordan's strong commitment and continuous efforts to develop and enhance its technical capabilities by offering an integrated ecosystem of advanced solutions that support enterprises throughout their comprehensive digital transformation journey. Through cutting-edge cybersecurity services, cloud computing, and advanced data centers, in collaboration with leading global technology providers, Orange Jordan delivers the best technical solutions that meet customers' aspirations and keep pace with the demands of the digital era. Orange Jordan CEO, Eng. Philippe Mansour, emphasized that Orange Jordan is proud to expand its partnerships with leading technology players in the region, such as StarLink. This strengthens our ability to provide integrated and advanced solutions that support the digital transformation of the business sector in Jordan. This partnership represents a strategic step towards empowering our customers to adopt the latest technologies with confidence and security, contributing to their business growth and enhancing their competitiveness. For his part, StarLink CEO Mr. Nidal Othman, also emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating: 'We are excited to work with Orange Jordan to help accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies in the Jordanian market. Together, we aim to support organizations in navigating the digital landscape with confidence and resilience.' This strategic partnership reflects Orange Jordan's commitment to providing integrated and advanced ICT solutions that support the growth of the business sector in the Kingdom. It also reinforces the company's position as a True Responsible Digital Leader, driving innovation and digital transformation. About Orange Jordan Orange Jordan, with over 1800 employees across nearly 300 shops and locations throughout Jordan, strives to provide the best customer experience through an integrated set of digital solutions including fixed lines, mobile lines, internet, data, and Smart Life Solutions to around 4.6 million customers in Jordan. Orange Jordan is a subsidiary of Orange Global Group, which is present in 26 countries worldwide. In line with the Group's strategy 'Lead the Future' and through its positioning as a true responsible digital leader, Orange Jordan supports the national digital transformation vision. Orange Jordan prioritizes community service, and in this context, it implements a comprehensive CSR strategy that revolves around 4 pillars including digital education, digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, climate, and environment. In addition to serving individual customers, Orange Jordan offers tailored solutions for businesses through its sub-brand, (Orange Business). About Orange Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with revenues of 40.3 billion euros in 2024 and 127,000 employees worldwide at 31 December 2024, including 71,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 291 million customers worldwide at 31 December 2024, including 253 million mobile customers and 22 million fixed broadband customers. These figures account for the deconsolidation of certain activities in Spain following the creation of MASORANGE. The Group is present in 26 countries (including non-consolidated countries). Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies under the brand Orange Business. In February 2023, the Group presented its strategic plan "Lead the Future", built on a new business model and guided by responsibility and efficiency. "Lead the Future" capitalizes on network excellence to reinforce Orange's leadership in service quality.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store