Latest news with #digitalconnectivity
Gulf Business
4 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
du and Omantel expand Gulf connectivity with high-speed fibre network
Oman skyline. Image: Getty images du, UAE's telecom and digital services provider, and Omantel, the Sultanate of Oman's integrated telecommunications company, have announced the activation of the Oman Emirates Gateway (OEG) — a 275-kilometre international fibre optic submarine cable system designed to enhance digital connectivity between the UAE and Oman. The OEG connects three major regional data centres: datamena DX1 in Dubai, Equinix MC1 in Barka, and Equinix SN1 in Salalah. The high-capacity system aims to provide a seamless express route that improves network efficiency, speeds up connectivity, and offers a significant uplift in digital service experiences across the region. Recent news: Karim Benkirane, chief commercial officer of du, said: 'The Oman Emirates Gateway is far more than just an optical cable; it is a bridge towards future-proofing the digital infrastructure of the region. This project will be a cornerstone for hyperscalers, content providers, and international carriers, empowering them to enhance their presence in the UAE and Oman, and optimize their operational capability to meet the growing demands of the digital era.' Samy Al Ghassany, chief technology and digital officer at Omantel, added: 'The full activation of the Oman Emirates Gateway marks a pivotal milestone in our journey towards digital transformation in Oman and beyond. We are proud to contribute to the region's content enrichment and to establish a robust, high-capacity corridor that will empower businesses across Oman and the UAE. This achievement goes beyond mere connectivity; it propels the entire region towards innovation, growth, and global competitiveness.' Fibre optic submarine cable system The OEG system is built for high resilience, offering dual route options via both terrestrial and subsea paths. It is designed to deliver exceptional reliability and performance, supporting emerging technologies and future scalability. The infrastructure will also enable faster cloud access and direct connections to global data centres, supporting international business operations and digital transformation. This milestone reinforces the strategic partnership between du and Omantel and strengthens their positions as key wholesale players in the region. It also reflects a joint commitment to accelerating digital innovation, attracting global technology companies, and contributing to economic growth and technological advancement in both the UAE and Oman.
Top Gear
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Polestar 3 - long-term review - Report No:2 2025
This is making my automotive life increasingly difficult. The Polestar 3 is a beacon of digital connectivity, a car that invites you to become part of an impossibly shiny ecosystem. All good in theory, but stress tested by me in inimitable fashion. For example, Polestar really wants you to use your phone as a digital key, a brand invocation I'd resolutely ignored. Instead, I was relying on the little credit card with its fob thing for distance recognition. A bit fiddly but tolerable. Cybercrime, as we all know, is the new ground zero for law enforcement. Villains take note: you don't need expensive kit or nerdy IT goons gone bad, you need me. I'm a one-man EMP device. Phones, laptops, smart TVs: you name it, I will fail to make them work. I'm a technology magician, only in reverse. Also, it turns out, prone to running out of charge with nothing on it to indicate when this might happen. To keep it charged, you need to place the fob on the inductive charging pad on the centre console, and check the centre display for its SOC. Let it run flat and you won't be able to get into the car. I learnt this the hard way one evening. Anyway, I'm now fully digitally keyed up and have a new App to fiddle with. But a convert? Not yet. A quick look on Polestar forums suggests that the card, fob and digital key all excite, shall we say, various levels of comment. The digital key uses Ultra Wideband tech for greater security and convenience, and if you keep the card about your person as back-up you should be all good. But you need to keep the fob charged, too. This is a weird interpretation of convenience, if you ask me. Especially as you can add OCD to my EMP functionality, except that you can hardly check that your car's locked if it automatically unlocks as you approach it. This is all ruinous for my mental health. There have been a few other glitches, highlighting the pitfalls of software defined cars. The Polestar 3 has separate volume channels for phone and audio. When I finished a call and returned to a podcast, the system didn't hand back to the audio and wouldn't adjust. That was cured the next time I got in the car. Also temperamental was the manual control for the air con. That also mysteriously fixed itself. All of which suggests that technology is great when it works. And a royal pain in the arse when it doesn't. Especially when the car itself is so good… Did I mention that the Polestar 3 is a car?
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Landmark deal to eliminate mobile blackspots on busiest rail routes
Commuters will soon be able to work seamlessly and stay connected with loved ones as the Transport Secretary lands a landmark deal to eliminate mobile blackspots on Britain's busiest rail routes. The breakthrough agreement will transform daily journeys for millions of passengers who currently face the frustration of dropped calls and interrupted streaming on key routes between Birmingham, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Cardiff. The deal, named Project Reach and signed today between Network Rail, and telecoms companies, Neos Networks and Freshwave marks the end of passengers having to pause important work calls or cut short conversations with family members when trains enter notorious signal blackspots. READ MORE: Northfield bus stabbing police probe launched after lunchtime attack The project's innovative commercial model brings together public and private sector investment and infrastructure and is expected to save taxpayers around £300m while creating a high-performing digital connectivity backbone for businesses, supporting the UK's digital ambitions. Project Reach will initially see Neos Networks deploy 1,000 kilometres of ultra-fast fibre optic cable along the East Coast Main Line, parts of the West Coast Main Line and the Great Western Main Line, with ambition to expand beyond 5,000 kilometres in the near future. In addition to this, Freshwave will tackle signal blackspots in 57 tunnels, covering almost 50 kilometres, including the 4-kilometre-long Chipping Sodbury tunnel near Bristol. As part of the deal, mobile network operators will also invest in new 4G/5G infrastructure at 12 of the biggest Network Rail stations across the country including Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley, Euston, Glasgow Central, King's Cross, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Paddington and Waterloo. Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, said: "This is a game changer for passengers up and down the country and will revolutionise journeys from Paddington to Penzance and Edinburgh to Euston. 'By boosting connectivity and tackling signal blackspots, we are also ensuring a more reliable and efficient service. 'This means better journeys for passengers while supporting our broader Plan for Change goals of economic growth and digital innovation.' This is a multi-year project with the first installation of mobile infrastructure expected to begin in 2026 and fully rolled out by 2028. The enhanced network will also enable better monitoring of railway assets and facilitate new technologies that rely on improved connectivity, paving the way for more reliable train services and improved safety for railway workers. Jeremy Westlake, Network Rail's Chief Financial Officer, said: "I'm delighted that we have now signed this innovative deal with our partners Neos Networks and Freshwave. 'This investment model will deliver the necessary upgrades to our telecoms infrastructure faster whilst offering significant value-for-money for the taxpayer and stimulating wider economic benefits across the country. 'As we move towards becoming a unified railway with the formation of Great British Railways, the enhanced telecoms infrastructure will play a key role in our ambition to provide a data-driven railway of the future, delivering better connectivity and a better, more reliable train service for our passengers.' Lee Myall, CEO of Neos Networks, said: "Project Reach will support the upgrade of the UK's connectivity infrastructure, creating new data superhighways that will drive the UK's digital ambitions forward." This partnership marks a major stride towards improved performance and better services for passengers as part of Great British Railways, as the Transport Secretary continues to deliver the Government's Plan for Change with a more connected, efficient, and passenger-focused railway fit for the future. It also builds on £41m confirmed in the Government's National Infrastructure Strategy to introduce low-earth-orbit satellite connectivity on all mainline trains, significantly improving both the availability and internet data connection speeds for Wi-Fi connected passengers.
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Du and pureLiFi announce Bridge XC collaboration to revolutionize outdoor CPE deployment
Dubai, UAE: du, the leading telecom and digital services provider, and pureLiFi today announced the launch of a collaboration to revolutionise outdoor Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE) deployment with pureLiFi's Bridge XC, an innovative solution that combines wireless data and power transfer through windows. The deployment of the Bridge XC, the first consumer LiFi-based solution in the MENA region, represents a transformative step in digital connectivity for du customers. This innovative technology leverages invisible light to deliver wireless, high-speed broadband without the need for drilling or complex installations, making internet access faster, more cost-effective, and reliable. By ensuring stable connectivity even in challenging environments, it enhances user experience with low-latency, multi-gigabit speeds, ideal for gaming, streaming, and remote work. Saleem Alblooshi Chief Technology Officer at du said: 'Buildings naturally challenge 5G coverage due to materials that significantly attenuate sub-6 Ghz and mmWave spectrum signals. Bridge XC offers a solution that not only eliminates these barriers but also provides users with lightning-fast installation and reliable performance.' The solution optimizes network utilization, improving capacity on sub-6 GHz 5G and mmWave infrastructure, while its interference-free design ensures secure data transmission and readiness for next-gen applications. Differentiating itself from conventional broadband solutions, the Bridge XC seamlessly connects outdoor CPE to indoor networks through windows, bypassing infrastructure limitations to deliver consistent high-speed internet. Alistair Banham, CEO at pureLiFi said: 'We've designed the Bridge XC with our partners Solace Power for versatility across all regions and environments. Bridge XC makes installation seamless, self-installable while keeping costs low and can enable 6x network capacity gains on sub-6 Ghz 5G. It's about creating value at every level.' Collaborative trials will evaluate reliability, ease of use, and performance across diverse environments, ensuring compatibility with modern requirements for installations supporting 4G, 5G/mmWave, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and fiber ONTs among other use cases. Supported by extensive in house testing the next trial phase will focus on network optimization, self-install process and performance on diverse window types to ensure adoption-ready reliability for global carriers. As the first operator in MENA to onboard light communication alongside RF communication, du solidifies its leadership in cutting-edge connectivity, driving both accessibility and future-proof innovation in the telecommunication industry. About du du adds life to life with a comprehensive portfolio of mobile, fixed, broadband, entertainment services, and fintech solutions. Through a digital-first approach powered by ultra-reliable fiber and 5G technology, du delivers bespoke solutions leveraging cloud computing, AI-driven analytics, advanced cybersecurity, and IoT integration. As a trusted digital telco enabler spearheading the UAE's digital transformation, we collaborate with a dynamic partner ecosystem to propel industries and society toward operational excellence, shaping a more connected and digitally advanced future across the region.
Arab News
14-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
stc uses AI to ensure smarter, safer Hajj for 1.6m pilgrims
stc group, a leading digital enabler, supported more than 1.6 million Hajj pilgrims with a robust digital ecosystem, ensuring seamless connectivity, secure communications, and an exceptional spiritual experience. The group managed the holy season with outstanding readiness and reliability, elevating pilgrims' experience through advanced telecommunications infrastructure and dedicated onsite maintenance teams. stc utilized its integrated operations center to monitor all performance indicators in real time, while leveraging cutting-edge analysis and network operation technologies to make swift, precise decisions, ensuring uninterrupted service, even during peak network traffic. stc's network reached record-breaking data and call volumes on the day of Arafah and the first day of Eid Al-Adha, surpassing previous Hajj seasons. The deployment of an advanced technical system powered by generative AI and cognitive SON enabled more than 14,000 technical actions per hour, a 30 percent increase from last year. This system also improved upload speed by 20 percent and achieved a self-recovery rate of more than 95 percent during peak times. stc's 5G network recorded its highest-ever utilization rate of 90 percent during Arafah, successfully meeting the unprecedented demand and ensuring a seamless customer experience. Data usage peaked at Muzdalifah on the first day of Eid, with a 64 percent increase in traffic, a 129 percent surge in 5G usage, and a 25 percent improvement in user experience. In Mina, AI-based predictive analytics optimized load distribution, boosting data traffic by more than 30 percent and enhancing 5G performance by 39 percent compared to last season. In response to the heightened demand throughout this season, stc set up 436 fixed towers and 78 mobile towers to serve the Haram area and the holy sites, along with 259 5G sites, 83 upgraded 4G sites, and 21 additional coverage sites. Moreover, 998 Wi-Fi access points and 179 dedicated indoor data network sites ensured optimal coverage. stc dedicated 144 critical communications network sites to deliver immediate support to security and service sectors, backed by a robust team of on-ground maintenance professionals ensuring uninterrupted services in all conditions. The group also played a key role in supporting government and private entities serving pilgrims, demonstrating its commitment to fostering national collaboration during the Hajj season. stc contributed to the delivery of more than 203 million text messages on the day of Arafah, providing pilgrims with multilingual guidance to perform rituals with ease. stc subsidiaries played a vital role in enhancing the Hajj experience. 'sirar by stc' delivered cyber protection solutions to safeguard data and ensure the continuity of digital systems, while 'specialized by stc' provided critical communication services via TETRA and LTE networks through its Miqat and Manasik solutions. Additionally, its Event Management Platform seamlessly connected operations rooms with field teams in real time, facilitating the safe and efficient movement of pilgrims. 'solutions by stc' contributed with advanced services such as SD-WAN, router management, and high-performance Wi-Fi to ensure continuous connectivity. 'iot squared' introduced smart tents equipped with sensors to monitor temperature, humidity, and smoke, enabling early emergency detection and faster response through command centers. 'The success of this year's Hajj underscores the group's commitment to serving pilgrims as a trusted digital partner,' the group said. 'Operating behind the scenes, stc connected hearts and networks by delivering advanced telecommunications services that respected the sanctity of the occasion. stc group is proud to support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by driving digital transformation and enhancing the experience of pilgrims during Hajj.'
