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سدرة المالية و BPKH Limited يعلنان عن شراكة استراتيجية

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

 6ربيع الآخر 1446هـ جدة، المملكة العربية السعودية – أعلنت شركة سدرة المالية المديرالرائد للصناديق المرخصة من هيئة السوق المالية، عن إبرام شراكة استراتيجية مع شركة BPKH Limited لاستكشاف فرص استثمار عقارية متوافقة مع الشريعة في قطاع الضيافة في المدن الرئيسية بالمملكة، بما في ذلك جدة ومكة المكرمة والمدينة المنورة.

تأتي هذه الشراكة تجسيدًا لالتزام كلتا الشركتين بتعزيز الاستثمار في قطاع الضيافة في المملكة، بما يتماشى مع رؤية المملكة 2023م. ومن خلال هذه التعاون، تسعى الشركتان إلى دعم جهود التنوع الاقتصادي وتحقيق أهداف الاستثمار الوطني، مما يساهم في المبادرات التنموية ونمو القطاع.

تستثمر سدرة المالية خبرتها الواسعة في إدارة الأصول المتوافقة مع الشريعة والعقارات لضمان أن المشاريع المستقبلية تتماشى مع أعلى معايير النزاهة المالية والأخلاقية، مما يسهم في توفير عقارات مستدامة ومولدة للدخل.

prandmarketing@sidracap.com

تُعتبر سدرة المالية مدير رائد للأصول البديلة ومعترف بها دوليًا كخبير في صناعة الاستثمار المتوافق مع الشريعة. تتمتع الشركة بسجل ناجح من التعاون مع أفضل الشركاء الإقليميين والعالميين. وتمتلك سدرة المالية سجلًا قويًا من الإنجازات في مجال الاستثمار العقاري واستراتيجيات التمويل الخاصة. منذ عام 2009، استطاعت تحقيق نمو مستدام وتوفير فرص استثمارية من خلال تقييمها المستمر لتغيرات السوق العالمية. كما حصلت سدرة المالية على العديد من الجوائز في مجال إدارة الاستثمارات المتوافقة مع الشريعة.

تُعد BPKH Limited، التابعة للهيئة المسؤولة عن إدارة أموال الحج (Badan Pengelola Keuangan Haji  – BPKH) مؤسسة متخصصة لتعزيز إدارة أموال الحج بهدف أن تصبح المزود الرائد عالميًا لخدمات الحج والعمرة. ومن خلال التزامها بالتنمية المستدامة، والاستثمارات الاستراتيجية، والممارسات المالية المبتكرة، تسعى BPKH Limited إلى تعظيم القيمة للمساهمين ودعم تجربة حج سلسة ومُرضية للحجاج في جميع أنحاء العالم. من خلال هذا النهج المركز، تعمل BPKH Limited على تعزيز البنية التحتية وتحسين الخدمات المقدمة للحجاج.

الصورة المصاحبة لهذا الإعلان متاحة على

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5497c3e8–4ff1–4e1f–8ccf–11910583fa6c


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1000996613)

Sidra Capital and BPKH Limited Announce Strategic Partnership

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sidra Capital, a leading fund manager licensed by the Capital Market Authority (CMA), has announced a strategic partnership with BPKH Limited to explore Shari’ah–compliant hospitality real estate opportunities in key Saudi cities, including Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah.

This partnership reflects both organizations' dedication to enhancing investment in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector, aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. By supporting Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and investment goals, this collaboration contributes to the nation’s development initiatives and the growth of its hospitality industry.

Sidra Capital will leverage its expertise in Shari’ah–compliant asset management and real estate to ensure that future projects meet the highest standards of financial and ethical integrity and deliver sustainable, income–generating properties.

Contact: prandmarketing@sidracap.com

About Sidra Capital:
Sidra Capital is a leading alternative asset manager and is internationally recognized as a leader in the Shariah–compliant investment industry. The company has a successful track record of working with best–in–class regional and global partners. Sidra Capital has a strong record of achievements in the field of real estate investment and private financing strategies. Since 2009, it has been able to achieve sustainable growth and provide investment opportunities through its continuous assessment of global market changes. Sidra Capital has also been awarded with many awards in the field of Shariah–compliant investment management.

About BPKH Limited:
BPKH Limited, a subsidiary of Badan Pengelola Keuangan Haji (BPKH), is dedicated to enhancing the management of Hajj funds in pursuit of becoming the world’s leading provider of Hajj and Umrah services. With a commitment to sustainable development, strategic investments, and innovative financial management practices, BPKH Limited maximizes value for stakeholders and supports a seamless, fulfilling Hajj experience for pilgrims worldwide. Through this focused approach, BPKH Limited continually strengthens the infrastructure and services supporting this sacred journey, fostering growth and excellence in the Hajj and Umrah sector.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5497c3e8–4ff1–4e1f–8ccf–11910583fa6c


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1000996613)

FreedomPay and Stripe announce partnership to make it easier for enterprises to unify commerce

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FreedomPay, an innovative leader in Next Level Commerce™ technologies, and Stripe, a financial infrastructure platform for businesses, today announced a partnership that makes it possible for virtually any enterprise to use Stripe for online and in–person payments alongside their existing commerce tools.

FreedomPay aggregates hundreds of different point of sale (POS) systems and dozens of payment devices and commerce integrations onto a single platform. Stripe helps businesses process payments online and in person; offers advanced fraud protection powered by machine learning; optimizes authorization requests for issuers to boost revenue; and maintains industry–leading reliability. Stripe powers millions of the world’s leading businesses, including Amazon, BMW, H&M, and Unilever.

Together, FreedomPay and Stripe will provide enterprises with flexibility and modularity—the ability to add Stripe to an existing set of commerce tools—without requiring significant development resources.

“For the first time, businesses can use Stripe’s ultra–reliable and industry–leading payments processing alongside hundreds of POS systems and with third party card readers,” said John Affaki, Business Lead, Payments Acceptance at Stripe. “We’re thrilled to partner with FreedomPay to help enterprises modernize.”

With this partnership, enterprises—including hotels, retailers, and food & beverage providers—can now take advantage of Stripe’s platform, including those that already use FreedomPay. In one place, they’ll be able to manage payments, loyalty programs, customer analytics, and more.

“Many of the largest businesses in the world already use FreedomPay and they’ve been telling us they’d love to see Stripe join our growing ecosystem of connectivity,” said Chris Kronenthal, President of FreedomPay. “We’re excited that our merchants can now modernize their systems and grow their revenue with Stripe.”

About FreedomPay

FreedomPay’s Next Level Commerce™ platform transforms existing payment systems and processes from legacy to leading edge and enables merchants to unleash the power of pay. As the premier choice for many of the largest companies across the globe in retail, hospitality, lodging, gaming, sports and entertainment, foodservice, education, healthcare and financial services, FreedomPay’s technology has been purposely built to deliver rock solid performance in the highly complex environment of global commerce.

The company maintains a world–class security environment and was first to earn the coveted validation by the PCI Security Standards Council against Point–to–Point Encryption (P2PE/EMV) standard in North America. FreedomPay’s robust solutions across payments, security, identity, and data analytics are available in–store, online and on–mobile and are supported by rapid API adoption. The award winning FreedomPay Commerce Platform operates on a single, unified technology stack across multiple continents allowing enterprises to deliver an innovative Next Level experience on a global scale. www.freedompay.com

Contact Information

Jennifer Tayebi Burson for FreedomPay
Jennifer.Tayebi@hillandknowlton.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9253620)

Bitget Integrates GMCI Indices Enabling Curated-Secured Trading

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has announced the addition of the GMCI indices to its futures market, enabling traders to access a diversified range of assets securely. The GMCI indices are curated based on strict criteria to ensure a verified overview of the market. For any coin to be included in the GMCI indices, it must be actively traded on at least one of eight major centralized exchanges (CEXs) with sufficient trading volume.

Additionally, each coin must have the support of at least one of three custodians, ensuring the integrity and security of assets. The indices focus on coins with transparent circulating market capitalization. Circulating Market Cap information is obtained from CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko, and live pricing information is sourced from Coin Metrics, which also serves as GMCI’s third–party index calculation agent.

The GMCI 30 index stands out by featuring the top 30 coins within the GMCI asset universe, excluding stablecoins, wrapped assets, and staked assets such as USDC, WBTC, and stETH. This index provides traders with exposure to a comprehensive set of the leading digital assets, capturing the broader market's movements while maintaining diversification and reducing over–concentration in any single asset.

“At Bitget we prioritize the security of our users while delivering world–class innovation. This aligns with Bitget's broader strategy of accelerating utility and mass adoption of crypto within a safe and secure ecosystem,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget. “By providing a curated set of assets backed by trusted custodians, we aim to empower traders with informed, diversified options to enhance the ease of managing wealth,” she added.

Rebalancing occurs monthly, on the last Friday of each month, with adjustments made according to the circulating market capitalization of the coins. This process ensures the indices remain up–to–date with market fluctuations, allowing them to reflect current trends and price movements accurately. While individual token positions are capped at 25% during rebalancing, they can float based on price performance, offering a dynamic representation of the market’s momentum throughout the month.

The GMCI Meme index caters to the growing interest in meme coins, a segment that has garnered significant attention and trading volume within the crypto community. This index includes the top meme coins traded across selected exchanges, allowing users to hop on emerging memecoin trends securely.

“Our collaboration with Bitget to launch a perpetual contract on the GMCI 30 index is a significant step in expanding the accessibility of our index solutions to a broader market. As a leading crypto exchange in terms of trading volume and innovation, Bitget shares our vision of delivering cutting–edge, reliable products to the trading community. This marks the beginning of further partnerships that will see GMCI indices used as the benchmark of choice for innovative trading products across leading platforms,” said Maarten Botman, CEO at GMCI.

Offering exposure to a range of assets, GMCI indices help traders navigate diverse market segments. GMCI indices provide the robustness and transparency investors are accustomed to on the traditional financial markets while tapping into expertise in crypto much like Bitget. With this, Bitget users can now access GMCI indices including memecoins indices on the platform.

To get started, please visit here.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 45 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading, AI bot and other trading solutions. Bitget Wallet is a world–class multi–chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including being the Official Crypto Partner of the World's Top Professional Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM, as well as a global partner of Olympic Athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team).

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices may fluctuate and experience price volatility. Only invest what you can afford to lose. The value of your investment may be impacted and it is possible that you may not achieve your financial goals or be able to recover your principal investment. You should always seek independent financial advice and consider your own financial experience and financial standing. Past performance is not a reliable measure of future performance. Bitget shall not be liable for any losses you may incur. Nothing here shall be construed as financial advice.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/459f37c8–cd0b–4be2–a7ba–6fcfd6f5e43e


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1000996559)

Mavenir 5G Core unterstützt ice Norwegen mit Network-Slicing für die norwegischen Streitkräfte

  • Kommerzielle 5G–Standalone–Lösung
  • Sichere, maßgeschneiderte End–to–End–Kommunikation ermöglichen
  • Spezielle Schichten für die besonderen Bedürfnisse der Streitkräfte
  • Ausweitung der strategischen Partnerschaft mit einem wichtigen Kunden

OSLO, Norwegen, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mavenir, der Anbieter von cloudbasierter Netzwerkinfrastruktur, der die Zukunft der Netzwerke gestaltet, liefert das vollständige 5G–Kernnetzwerk für ice, Norwegens drittgrößten Mobilfunkanbieter, um einen Network–Slicing–Dienst zu ermöglichen.

ice nutzt sein neues 5G–Standalone–(SA)–Netz, um den norwegischen Streitkräften eine dedizierte Netzwerk–Schicht zur Verfügung zu stellen, die auf die spezifischen Service–Levels ausgelegt ist, die für die militärische Kommunikation erforderlich sind. Im Wesentlichen handelt es sich um ein isoliertes Netzwerk innerhalb eines Netzwerks, wobei die Streitkräfte die ausschließliche landesweite Nutzung und Kontrolle über ihren Teil haben werden. Es wird in der Lage sein, eine sichere End–to–End–Kommunikation im gesamten Netzwerk herzustellen.

Mavenir 5G Mobile Core ist so konzipiert, dass Netzbetreiber Network–Slicing für die Bereitstellung innovativer Dienste für B2B–, B2C– oder öffentliche Organisationen nutzen können. Spezielle Netzwerk–Schichten können so konzipiert werden, dass sie bestimmte Anforderungen und Anwendungen erfüllen, und sie können schnell und einfach bereitgestellt und verwaltet werden und für die Bereitstellung neuer und innovativer Dienste und Anwendungen genutzt werden. Das cloudbasierte 5G SA–Netzwerk von Mavenir ist vollständig containerisiert, läuft auf jedem Cloud–Service und wurde mit einem Microservices–Ansatz entwickelt, der die Flexibilität bietet, sich ändernde Kundenbedürfnisse auf skalierbare Weise zu erfüllen.

„Durch den Einsatz von Network–Slicing wird der wahre Wert von 5G realisiert“, so Tore Kristoffersen, Vizepräsident für Plattformen zur Bereitstellung von Diensten bei ice. „Wir haben jetzt unzählige neue Geschäftsmöglichkeiten, die wir unseren Unternehmenskunden vorstellen können. Diese können auf präzise Service–Level–Vereinbarungen zugeschnitten werden, um die bestmögliche und kostengünstigste Nutzung der Ressourcen zu gewährleisten. Wir testen ebenso Lösungen für den Einsatz in öffentlichen Sicherheitsdiensten und unterstreichen dabei den Wert von 5G und seinen Network–Slicing–Fähigkeiten für eine sichere, kritische Kommunikation.“

„Die Flexibilität von Network–Slicing auf Basis von 5G ist für Mobilfunkbetreiber ein entscheidender Faktor“, so Ashok Khuntia, Präsident für Core–Netzwerke bei Mavenir. „Wir ermöglichen 5G–Anwendungsfälle in der Praxis und beweisen, dass die seit langem versprochene Monetarisierung von 5G Realität ist. Mit Sicherheit, Zuverlässigkeit und geringer Latenz ist 5G eine enorme Chance für die Branche. Wir freuen uns, unsere strategische Partnerschaft mit ice durch die Unterstützung dieses ersten Einsatzes in Norwegen auszubauen.“

Im vergangenen Jahr wählte ice im Rahmen einer strategischen Projekterweiterung die cloudbasierte IMS und Messaging/VAS von Mavenir aus, nachdem bereits Mavenirs Converged Packet Core–Lösung für sein 4G– und 5G–Netz ausgewählt worden war.

Hinweise für Redakteure:

Offizielle Pressemitteilung von ice – ice schaltes „reines 5G“ ein

Mavenir 5G Core

Über Mavenir:

Mavenir baut die Zukunft der Netzwerke schon heute mit cloudbasierten, KI–fähigen Lösungen auf, die von Grund auf umweltfreundlich sind und es den Betreibern ermöglichen, die Vorteile von 5G zu nutzen und intelligente, automatisierte und programmierbare Netzwerke zu realisieren. Als Pionier des Open RAN und bewährter Branchenumgestalter sorgen die preisgekrönten Lösungen von Mavenir für Automatisierung und Monetarisierung in Mobilfunknetzen weltweit und beschleunigen die Transformation von Software–Netzwerken für über 300 Kommunikationsdienstanbieter in über 120 Ländern, die mehr als 50 % der weltweiten Abonnenten bedienen. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter www.mavenir.com

Mavenir – PR–Kontakte:
Emmanuela Spiteri
PR@mavenir.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9253628)

Mavenir 5G Core Capacita Slice da Rede Norueguesa ice para as Forças Armadas Norueguesas

  • 5G Comercial Autônomo
  • Customização segura e completa das comunicações
  • Slices dedicados para atender às necessidades específicas das Forças Armadas
  • Ampliação da parceria estratégica com o cliente principal

OSLO, Noruega, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Mavenir, fornecedora de infraestrutura de rede nativa na nuvem que está criando o futuro das redes está fornecendo a rede 5G completa da ice, a terceira maior operadora da Noruega, capacitando o serviço de slice de rede.

A ice está utilizando sua nova rede autônoma (SA) 5G para fornecer um slice de rede dedicado para as Forças Armadas da Noruega, criada para entregar níveis de serviço específicos exigidos pelas comunicações militares. Essencialmente uma rede isolada dentro de uma rede, as Forças Armadas terão uso e controle exclusivos do seu slice em todo o país. Ela poderá estabelecer comunicações completas seguras em toda a rede.

O 5G mobile core da Mavenir foi projetado para que as operadoras de rede habilitem o slice da rede para o fornecimento de serviços disruptivos a organizações B2B, B2C ou públicas. Os slices de rede dedicados podem ser projetados para atender às necessidades e aplicativos específicos, e implantados e gerenciados de forma rápida e fácil, e usados para fornecer serviços e aplicativos novos e inovadores. A rede 5G SA nativa em nuvem da Mavenir é totalmente conteinerizada, é executada em qualquer serviço em nuvem e projetada com uma abordagem de microsserviços, oferecendo flexibilidade para atender às necessidades em evolução dos clientes de maneira escalável.

“Essa implantação do slice de rede está alcançando o verdadeiro valor do 5G”, disse Tore Kristoffersen, vice–presidente de plataformas de prestação de serviços da ice. “Agora temos uma infinidade de possíveis novos casos de negócios para apresentar aos nossos clientes corporativos e que podem ser adaptados a acordos de nível de serviço precisos, garantindo o melhor e mais econômico uso dos recursos. Também estamos testando soluções para uso em serviços de segurança pública, destacando o valor do 5G e seus recursos de slice de rede para comunicações essenciais seguras.”

“A flexibilidade do slice de rede alimentado por 5G é um divisor de águas para as operadoras de telefonia móvel”, disse Ashok Khuntia, Presidente de Redes Principais da Mavenir. “Estamos viabilizando casos de uso do 5G na prática, provando que a monetização há muito prometida do 5G é uma realidade. Com segurança, confiabilidade e baixa latência, o 5G é uma grande oportunidade para a indústria. Estamos muito felizes de fazer esta parceria com a ice, proporcionando esta primeira implementação na Noruega.”

No ano passado, a ice selecionou o Cloud–Native IMS e o Messaging/VAS da Mavenir em uma expansão estratégica do projeto, já tendo selecionado a solução Converged Packet Core da Mavenir para alimentar sua rede 4G e 5G.

Notas aos Editores:

Comunicado de imprensa oficial da ice – ice turns on “pure 5G”

Núcleo 5G da Mavenir

Sobre a Mavenir

A Mavenir está estabelecendo hoje o futuro das redes com soluções nativas da nuvem e habilitadas para IA, que são ecológicas por design, capacitando as operadoras a obter os benefícios do 5G e alcançar redes inteligentes, automatizadas e programáveis. Como pioneira da Open RAN e uma comprovada disruptora revolucionária do setor, as soluções premiadas da Mavenir fornecem automação e monetização em redes móveis em todo o mundo, acelerando a transformação da rede de software para mais de 300 provedores de serviços de comunicações em mais de 120 países, que atendem a mais de 50% dos assinantes de todo o mundo. Para mais informação, visite www.mavenir.com.

Contatos de RP da Mavenir:  
Emmanuela Spiteri
PR@mavenir.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9253628)

Le réseau central 5G de Mavenir permet le découpage du réseau d’ice Norway pour les forces armées norvégiennes

  • 5G commerciale autonome
  • Mise en place de communications sécurisées et personnalisées de bout en bout
  • Tranches dédiées pour répondre aux besoins spécifiques des forces armées
  • Extension du partenariat stratégique avec un client clé

OSLO, Norvège, 09 oct. 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mavenir, le fournisseur d’infrastructures basées sur le cloud qui bâtit les réseaux de demain, propose un réseau central 5G complet à ice, le troisième plus important opérateur mobile norvégien, pour permettre un service de découpage en tranches du réseau.

ice utilise son nouveau réseau 5G autonome (SA) pour mettre à la disposition des forces armées norvégiennes une tranche de réseau dédiée, destinée à fournir les niveaux de service spécifiques requis par les communications militaires. Véritable réseau isolé au sein d’un réseau, les forces armées disposeront d’une utilisation et d’un contrôle exclusifs de leur tranche dans tout le pays. De ce fait, elles pourront établir des communications sécurisées de bout en bout sur le réseau.

Le réseau mobile 5G de Mavenir est conçu pour permettre aux opérateurs de découper le réseau afin de fournir des services révolutionnaires aux organisations B2B, B2C ou publiques. Les tranches de réseau dédiées peuvent être configurées pour répondre à des besoins et à des applications spécifiques, être déployées et gérées rapidement et facilement, et être utilisées pour fournir des applications et des services innovants. Le réseau 5G autonome cloud–native de Mavenir est entièrement conteneurisé, fonctionne sur n’importe quel service cloud et est conçu avec une approche microservices, ce qui lui confère la polyvalence nécessaire pour répondre à la diversité des besoins des clients d’une manière évolutive.

« Ce déploiement du découpage du réseau concrétise la véritable valeur de la 5G », a déclaré Tore Kristoffersen, vice–président des plateformes de fourniture de services chez ice. « Nous disposons désormais d’une myriade de nouveaux cas possibles à présenter à nos entreprises clientes, lesquels peuvent être ajustés à des accords de niveau de service précis, garantissant ainsi l’utilisation optimale et la plus rentable des ressources. Nous testons également des solutions pour les services de sécurité publique, soulignant la valeur de la 5G et de ses capacités de découpage du réseau pour des communications critiques sécurisées. »

« La modularité du découpage du réseau grâce à la 5G change la donne pour les opérateurs de téléphonie mobile », a souligné Ashok Khuntia, président des réseaux centraux chez Mavenir. « Nous mettons en pratique les cas d’utilisation de la 5G, démontrant ainsi que la monétisation de la 5G, promise depuis longtemps, est une réalité. En raison de sa sécurité, de sa fiabilité et de sa faible latence, la 5G représente une opportunité considérable pour l’industrie. Nous sommes ravis d’étendre notre partenariat stratégique avec ice en soutenant ce premier déploiement en Norvège. »

L’année dernière, ice a choisi IMS et Messaging/VAS Cloud–Native de Mavenir dans le cadre d’un projet d’expansion stratégique, ayant déjà retenu la solution Converged Packet Core de Mavenir pour alimenter son réseau 4G et 5G.

Notes à l’attention des rédacteurs :

communiqué de presse officiel d’ice – ice se tourne vers la « 5G pure »

Réseau central 5G de Mavenir

À propos de Mavenir :

Mavenir bâtit aujourd’hui les réseaux de demain grâce à des solutions basées sur le cloud et à l’IA, qui sont écologiques de par leur conception et qui permettent aux opérateurs de tirer parti des avantages de la 5G et de mettre en place des réseaux intelligents, automatisés et programmables. En tant que pionnier de l’Open RAN et innovateur du secteur, Mavenir et ses solutions primées assurent l’automatisation et la monétisation des réseaux mobiles dans le monde entier, accélérant la transformation des réseaux logiciels auprès de plus de 300 fournisseurs de services de communication dans plus de 120 pays, qui desservent plus de 50 % des abonnés dans le monde. Pour en savoir plus, rendez–vous sur www.mavenir.com

Contact relations publiques de Mavenir :
Emmanuela Spiteri
PR@mavenir.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9253628)

Pakistan’s Digital Censorship—The Real Cost of Internet Disruptions

Internet disruptions in Pakistan have become a freedom of expression issue. Credit: Usman Yousaf/Unsplash

Internet disruptions in Pakistan have become a freedom of expression issue.
Credit: Usman Yousaf/Unsplash

By Annam Lodhi
ISLAMABAD, Oct 9 2024 – Over the past few months, Pakistan has been grappling with a persistent and disruptive internet slowdown, leaving millions of citizens frustrated.

The disruptions are said to continue until the end of October, what began as intermittent disruptions has turned into a widespread, prolonged issue, significantly affecting freelancers, students, businesses, and everyday life.

The internet, once a tool for empowerment, now mirrors Pakistan’s deeper socio-political challenges, becoming a battleground for control and censorship. The slowdowns have disrupted the digital economy, highlighting the government’s increasing control over internet access and turning a space of connectivity into one of political manipulation and restriction.

 When Did the Internet Start to Slow Down?

Internet censorship and shutdowns are not new to Pakistan, especially during politically sensitive periods. In 2023 alone, internet shutdowns cost Pakistan over Rs65 billion, affecting 83 million people and lasting 259 hours, according to Statista. Pakistan ranked 7th globally in economic losses from internet disruptions, with a total loss of USD 237.6 million.

The first major slowdown in mid-2024 was initially blamed on undersea cable repairs, a frequent issue in the past. However, as weeks passed and disruptions persisted, it became evident that the problem was far more deliberate and widespread. The government’s vague justifications citing “national security” concerns only fueled public frustration and deepened suspicions about its true motives.

Opposition leaders brought the issue to the National Assembly, but the government’s inconsistent responses did little to alleviate concerns. Many began to speculate that the slowdowns were part of a broader effort to control public discourse and limit the reach of specific content on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. “Internet shutdowns have become a tool for suppressing dissent,” explains Fariha Aziz, co-founder of digital rights organization Bolo Bhi. “The government’s lack of transparency and contradictory statements about what’s happening makes it clear that there is more at play than just technical difficulties.”

Direct removal of content from social media platforms remains impossible for the government; these disruptions seem to be aimed at slowing the flow of information and limiting the reach of critical posts. “The WhatsApp disruption was an eye opener,” Aziz notes. “It showed us that the government has tested, tried, or put in place something more sophisticated than just throttling speeds.”

Internet slowdowns and shutdowns have severely impacted the economy, with the country heavily reliant on digital infrastructure. Pakistan joins other countries like India, Russia, and Ethiopia, where internet blackouts have caused significant financial damage. Globally, Russia experienced the largest monetary loss, with over USD 4 billion in damages due to internet shutdowns in 2023. Neighboring countries like Bangladesh and India, where similar tactics have been employed to control dissent. In Myanmar, the situation has been even more extreme, with the junta using total internet blackouts to prevent communication and stifle opposition. The growing comparisons between Pakistan and Myanmar are alarming, raising concerns about the future of internet freedom in the country.

 A History of Internet Censorship

Amnesty International has expressed growing concern over the increasing use of surveillance technologies and internet disruptions to monitor online activities, especially during times of unrest. The lack of transparency and justification for these actions undermines citizens’ right to freedom of expression.

“Internet shutdowns rarely meet the legal requirements of necessity and proportionality, making them unlawful under international human rights law,” says Hajira Maryam, Media Manager at Amnesty Tech.

For activists, journalists, and researchers, staying safe during internet shutdowns has become increasingly critical. Hajira Maryam emphasizes the importance of digital security measures, stating, “Before a shutdown, individuals should secure their devices by enabling encryption, updating software, and using strong passcodes. Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help bypass some blocks, but it is essential to understand the risks, as VPNs are often criminalized in certain contexts.”

Amnesty International has called on Pakistani authorities to be transparent about the reasons behind internet disruptions and to avoid deploying unnecessary and disproportionate monitoring and surveillance systems that violate international human rights laws. Internet disruptions not only limit access to information and expression but also create anxiety within communities, including the Pakistani diaspora, who are often cut off from communication with their loved ones.

In line with international legal frameworks, Amnesty urges that any restrictions on internet access must be legal, necessary, proportionate, and time-bound. The United Nations Human Rights Council and Special Rapporteurs have condemned the use of internet shutdowns as unlawful restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression, stressing that such measures must not hinder peaceful gatherings or public expression, especially during times of political unrest.

 Freelancers on the Frontline

One of the most severely impacted groups is Pakistan’s growing freelance workforce. Pakistan is ranked among the top five countries for freelancers globally, with thousands relying on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork to earn their livelihood. However, the internet slowdown has shattered their ability to deliver services reliably.

Umair Liaquat, a freelancer from Lahore who offers services related to advertisement management, began freelancing in 2020 after losing his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For two years, he successfully grew a top-rated Fiverr account, earning around USD 20,000 to USD 25,000. However, things took a downturn in 2024 when Pakistan’s internet slowdown became worse.

“In March 2024, Fiverr downgraded Pakistani sellers, warning clients that due to internet issues, delivery might be delayed. My contacts started declining immediately. To get around this, I began using a VPN and changed my location to the USA, which helped temporarily,” Umair explained.

Unfortunately, Fiverr disabled his account after detecting location inconsistency. After creating a new account, his business never regained the same traction due to firewall restrictions and frequent internet issues. This has left many freelancers, like Umair, scrambling to find alternative platforms and workarounds just to stay afloat.

Ali Raza, a business owner based in Karachi who works in the marketplace and recruitment space, echoed similar concerns. “In just a few months, I’ve lost over $20,000 in revenue because of slow internet. International clients can’t communicate with us properly, which delays projects and results in lost contracts. In a highly competitive market, this is devastating.”

The economic impact on freelancers is compounded by the fact that platforms like Fiverr and Upwork now rank Pakistan lower due to the country’s unreliable internet infrastructure. This further discourages international clients from working with Pakistani freelancers.

Impact on Education

Pakistan’s ongoing internet slowdown has severely impacted students across the country, exacerbating an already fragile education system that shifted online during the COVID-19 pandemic. With stable internet access crucial for millions of students, especially in rural areas, the disruptions have caused an educational crisis. Many students struggle to access lectures, participate in discussions, or submit assignments on time, significantly hindering their academic progress.

Wardah Noor, CEO of XWave, an online learning platform, shared her organization’s challenges: “In August, we had 1,500 registrations for a 10-day IT boot camp, but due to internet disruptions, only 300 participants attended. This delay set us back by two months and raised operational costs significantly.”

The impact is most pronounced in rural areas, where online education was the only viable option to bridge the educational divide. Now, the gap between urban and rural students has widened further, leaving those in remote areas with few alternatives. The global reach of education has also been compromised. Students enrolled in international programs have struggled to keep up with global timelines due to Pakistan’s slow internet.

“The global market moves on, leaving our students behind,” Wardah added.

Wardah also called for urgent government intervention to address the crisis. “Tech education without the internet is impossible. These disruptions have pushed us further from the dream of a ‘Digital Pakistan.’ The government must prioritize improving internet accessibility, especially in rural areas.”

Government’s Role and Digital Control

As the internet crisis continues, the role of the government has come under increasing scrutiny. the PTA has now admitted to “tinkering” with the internet as part of an effort to upgrade a controversial web monitoring system. Many speculate that these measures are part of a broader strategy to control the flow of information, especially during times of political unrest.

During periods of political tension, the internet has been deliberately slowed down or shut off to curb protests and control public opinion. In 2023, for instance, following the arrest of a former Prime Minister, the government admitted to throttling the internet to suppress protests. Similar tactics are being deployed in 2024, with digital rights activists and opposition leaders calling out the government for using the internet as a tool of repression.

The internet slowdown has extended beyond professional and educational circles, affecting daily life in ways that were previously unimaginable. Simple tasks, such as banking, accessing healthcare services via telemedicine, and even staying in touch with loved ones abroad, have become more challenging.

 What Lies Ahead for Pakistan’s Internet?

The internet slowdown in Pakistan has exposed critical vulnerabilities in the country’s digital infrastructure. With the growing reliance on digital platforms for economic growth, education, and daily services, a stable internet connection is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. Some efforts are being made to address these issues.

Companies like Meta have announced plans to invest in new undersea cables to improve internet speeds in Pakistan, but this raises concerns about the role of private companies in managing the country’s internet infrastructure and its potential impact on digital sovereignty.

At the same time, civil society organizations, international watchdogs, and opposition leaders continue to press for accountability. Clear regulations and transparency are essential to ensure that internet disruptions are not used as tools of political control. The government must prioritize improving internet infrastructure and ensuring that citizens can access a reliable and stable internet, free from unnecessary censorship.

As Pakistan navigates this digital crisis, the government must confront difficult questions about the future of the internet in the country. Will it continue to be a battleground for political control, or will it become a space for freedom and innovation? The answers to these questions will shape the future of Pakistan’s economy, education, and society for generations to come.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 


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Australia’s TPG Telecom Taps Mavenir to Boost Voice Security For Mobile Users and Block AI-Driven Scam Calls

RICHARDSON, Texas, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mavenir, the Network Software Provider building the future of networks with cloud–native solutions that run on any cloud, today announces that its advanced machine learning (ML) technology is being used by TPG Telecom to protect mobile users from the increasing scourge of AI–driven scam and spam voice calls – resulting in a 280 per cent increase in the number of fraudulent calls being blocked before they reach TPG Telecom customers’ mobile phones.

The Australian telco is already benefiting from Mavenir’s intelligent SpamShield technology protection for SMS messaging for several years. Mavenir is now supplying its robust, real–time CallShield solution –to protect TPG Telecom’s customers across its Vodafone, TPG, iiNet and felix brands from the nuisance and threat of automated and deepfake voice calls initiated by fraudsters.

In the first six months of this year, Mavenir’s CallShield technology has blocked almost 19 million fraudulent mobile calls from reaching TPG Telecom’s customers. This equates to blocking 103,000 illicit calls from reaching customers per day, and more than triple the 4.9 million calls blocked in the first half of 2023. This represents some of the highest scam and spam call prevention figures in the industry.

TPG Telecom also uses Mavenir’s SpamShield platform to stop fraudulent SMS from reaching its mobile users. In the first six months of 2024, Mavenir’s technology blocked more than 59.6 million fraudulent text messages from reaching TPG Telecom’s customers.

Communication Service Providers (CSPs) globally are facing a constantly evolving flow of unsolicited spam and fraud traffic – across both data and voice services – which is increasingly driven by sophisticated AI techniques, making it very difficult to detect and control. In addition to creating a poor experience for users and significant revenue losses for operators, a 2022 report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission highlighted that phone scams cost Australians a concerning A$141 million in losses. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the regulator of the country’s telecommunications system, is spearheading industry action to crack down on spam and scam calls and ensure that consumers are adequately protected – enforcing regulatory compliance from operators and supporting the roll–out of effective security solutions from technology vendors. Mavenir’s CallShield solution uses real–time machine learning technology to carry out automated security analysis and proactive defense across voice services – helping operators to stay one step ahead of the scammers. The CallShield solution provides CSPs with 360–degree control to effectively address specific situations within their networks with unrivalled speed and flexibility. While traditional detection and prevention techniques are based on deterministic rules that can be easily detected and bypassed, CallShield’s ML detection algorithms with built–in intelligence adapt to current network conditions and subscriber behavior to continually detect and block attempted activity from spammers and fraudster.

TPG Telecom Chief Technology Officer Giovanni Chiarelli said: “Our business is built on the trust of our customers. We are committed to embracing new technologies that provide the best possible protection against the nuisance and threat of malicious harm posed by these spammers and scammers. We are pleased Mavenir’s CallShield technology is providing real–time, automated security analysis and effective security for customers across our voice services.”

Jan Schaar, Asia Pacific Regional Vice President for Mavenir, added: “The speed and sophistication of the techniques being employed by scammers and fraudsters means that a reactive security approach based on purely “reporting” spam is no longer enough. To offer mobile users the assurance and peace of mind they need today, we need to work harder and smarter, and remain one step ahead at all times – continuously learning from and anticipating the scammers’ next move. Our SpamShield platform, with its powerful ML–driven engine, is already delivering state–of–the–art, proactive security and protection across TPG’s messaging services. We are happy to now be extending the solution span by providing our robust CallShield technology – ensuring that TPG’s mobile customers can now enjoy the same superior protection from nuisance and malicious threats that arrive in the form of unwanted voice calls.”

Notes to editor:

TPG official Press Release – TPG Telecom stops spams and scams from reaching customers with new call blocker

CallShield – Mavenir

SpamShield / Messaging Fraud – Mavenir

About TPG Telecom

TPG Telecom is an Australian telecommunications company which is home to some of Australia’s most–loved telecommunications brands including Vodafone, TPG, iiNet, AAPT, Internode, Lebara and felix. As the second largest telecommunications company listed on the ASX, TPG Telecom has a strong challenger spirit and a commitment to delivering the best services and products to its customers. www.tpgtelecom.com.au.

TPG Telecom PR Contact:
media@tpgtelecom.com.au

About Mavenir:

Mavenir is building the future of networks today with cloud–native, AI–enabled solutions which are green by design, empowering operators to realize the benefits of 5G and achieve intelligent, automated, programmable networks. As the pioneer of Open RAN and a proven industry disruptor, Mavenir’s award–winning solutions are delivering automation and monetization across mobile networks globally, accelerating software network transformation for 300+ Communications Service Providers in over 120 countries, which serve more than 50% of the world’s subscribers. For more information, please visit www.mavenir.com

Mavenir PR Contacts:
Emmanuela Spiteri
PR@mavenir.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9253588)

Strategic Patience can Mitigate Conflict Between Israel & Iran

President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s 79th session in September 2024. Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe

By David L. Phillips
WASHINGTON DC/OXFORD, Oct 9 2024 – How will Israel respond to Iran’s recent ballistic missiles barrage? “Strategic patience” is the best course. Israel has its hands full with Hamas and Hezbollah. Now is not the time to escalate a new major war with Iran, which could have nuclear implications.

Israeli intelligence is still chafing from its failure to preempt Hamas’ attack on October 7, which killed 1,200 Israelis. In the year since Hamas attacked, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched operations that killed 41,000 Palestinians.

Its response has been brutal yet ineffective. Israel failed to capture the Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar or gain the release of more than 100 Israeli hostages. A humanitarian catastrophe led to the starvation and displacement of more than 2 million people.

The IDF since taken a big step to redeem its tarnished reputation by deterring Iran’s missiles strikes. The “iron dome” repelled 190 ballistic missiles fired by Iran last week. Israel repelled another attack on April 13 involving 300 missile and attack drones, which caused little damage.

Iran was embarrassed by the sequence of events, which went far beyond its failed missile attacks. I know from Javad Zarif, Iran’s former foreign minister, that Persian pride is important to Iranians. Iran faced many setbacks in the past year. President Ibrahim Raisi died in a fiery helicopter crash.

Masoud Pezeshkian, who supports engagement with the United States, gained a plurality of the popular vote and became Iran’s president. The outcome was a rebuke to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his theocratic regime.

No event affected Iran more than the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah. Nasrallah was a friend of and served as Iran’s most steadfast proxy for more than 30 years. Nasrallah was killed in an air strike in Beirut by 2,000 pound-bunker buster bombs that devastated the Southern Beirut neighborhood of Dahiyeh.

The air strike was another indignity following Israel’s sabotage of Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies that killed scores of Hezbollah commanders and disabled its communications system.

Hezbollah’s mythical reputation for battlefield prowess was shattered. Hezbollah was the most significant of Iran’s proxies in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Nasrallah fought ISIS, defended Bashar al-Assad in Syria’s civil war, and did the regime’s dirty work around the world.

Fearing his own assassination, Khamenei was removed to a secure location. He emerged in time for Friday prayers to defend Iran’s missile strikes on Israel as “correct, logical, and lawful” and to condemn Israel’s “astonishing crimes”.

Nasrallah’s death was a big blow to the Iranian regime. Iran was further humiliated by the assassination of Ismail Haniya, a senior Hamas figure staying in an official guest house while attending Raisi’s funeral in Tehran.

Netanyahu warned that no place in the Middle East is safe from Israel’s security services. He was right. In addition, economic sanctions have taken their toll on Iranians. Sanctions relief is a distant dream as the US and G7 allies tighten the screws on Iran’s economy.

Israel-Iran relations are at a fork in the road. President Joe Biden has urged Netanyahu to consider “alternatives” to attacking Iranian nuclear sites or destroying Iran’s oil infrastructure. There is an alternative conflict escalation.

Netanyahu and Khamenei should consider a new approach now that the shadow war is out in the open. Diplomacy would require assurances from Israel that it won’t launch a first strike against Iran. In turn, Iran must guarantee that its nuclear program won’t be weaponized.

Discreet discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency would advance safeguards, including spot inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites and the reactivation of electronic surveillance. For sure, Israel will continue operations in Gaza. Israel will hunt Sinwar until he is eliminated. It cannot countenance another October 7.

In Lebanon, Israel has succeeded in killing Nasrallah and eliminating half of Hezbollah’s 150,000 missiles. Its ground operation in Southern Lebanon cannot be open-ended. Having a failed state on Israel’s northern border would result in continued instability and risk.

Regional progress would be impossible with a new front between Israel and Iran. Strategic patience means that Israel would bide its time until there is an opportunity for diplomatic progress. Diplomacy and de-escalation are preferable to war without end.

David L. Phillips is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program and a Visiting Research Scholar at Oxford University.

IPS UN Bureau

 


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