stc Group Signs Strategic Deal with TONOMUS for LEO Satellite Capacity in Saudi Arabia

stc group logo
stc group logo
TT

stc Group Signs Strategic Deal with TONOMUS for LEO Satellite Capacity in Saudi Arabia

stc group logo
stc group logo

TONOMUS – NEOM's cognitive technology and digital infrastructure subsidiary – announced the signing of a multi-year agreement with stc group, an engine of digital transformation, to acquire from TONOMUS Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity capacity in Saudi Arabia.

Unveiled at FII in Riyadh, the newly announced agreement will grant stc group unprecedented access to LEO satellite capacity and empower the company to offer high-speed broadband internet and data services, as well as business continuity solutions to government institutions, large enterprises and SMEs across Saudi Arabia.

stc group's acquisition is a significant milestone for the connectivity landscape in the country, given their emphasis on enhancing and offering optimized connectivity services for customers in crucial industries like oil and gas, mining, agritech, health, education and finance.

The collaboration between TONOMUS and stc group is a testament to the accelerating demand for affordable, fast, high-bandwidth and low-latency connectivity across the region. It will enable the provision of fiber-like internet access to residents of rural and remote areas, ultimately facilitating an enhanced and seamless online experience.

TONOMUS' agreement with stc group will strengthen Saudi Arabia's digital transformation through strong collaboration with local infrastructure and service providers. It will also help usher in a transition to broad participation in the digital ecosystem as a platform for scalability, innovation and availability for all government and business sectors.

Scott Gegenheimer, President of Infrastructure, TONOMUS, said: "The acquisition of LEO satellite network capacity by stc group corresponds with TONOMUS' vision for a more connected, inclusive and prosperous Saudi Arabia. We see stc group as an ideal partner to extend coverage in the region and help us realize this vision. The agreement between our two companies will facilitate the provision of rapid and reliable connectivity to transform businesses and the lives of communities, while empowering NEOM's groundbreaking ecosystem of cognitive technologies that we are developing at TONOMUS."

Riyadh Muawad, GCBO, stc group, said, "stc is committed to lead in the ICT and digital transformation in the region. Our contract with TONOMUS is a major milestone that will enable us to offer high-speed, low-latency satellite internet and data services to customers in crucial industries. This will help bridge the digital divide in remote areas and communities, benefitting government sectors and businesses. We are proud to partner with TONOMUS and contribute to the country's digital ecosystem."



Facebook-Parent Meta Settles with Australia’s Privacy Watchdog over Cambridge Analytica Lawsuit

The logo of Meta Platforms' business group is seen in Brussels, Belgium December 6, 2022. (Reuters)
The logo of Meta Platforms' business group is seen in Brussels, Belgium December 6, 2022. (Reuters)
TT

Facebook-Parent Meta Settles with Australia’s Privacy Watchdog over Cambridge Analytica Lawsuit

The logo of Meta Platforms' business group is seen in Brussels, Belgium December 6, 2022. (Reuters)
The logo of Meta Platforms' business group is seen in Brussels, Belgium December 6, 2022. (Reuters)

Meta Platforms has agreed to a A$50 million settlement ($31.85 million), Australia's privacy watchdog said on Tuesday, closing long-drawn, expensive legal proceedings for the Facebook parent over the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner had alleged that personal information of some users was being disclosed to Facebook's personality quiz app, This is Your Digital Life, as part of the broader scandal.

The breaches were first reported by the Guardian in early 2018, and Facebook received fines from regulators in the United States and the UK in 2019.

Australia's privacy regulator has been caught up in the legal battle with Meta since 2020. The personal data of 311,127 Australian Facebook users was "exposed to the risk of being disclosed" to consulting firm Cambridge Analytica and used for profiling purposes, according to the 2020 statement.

It convinced the high court in March 2023 to not hear an appeal, which is considered to be a win that allowed the watchdog to continue its prosecution.

In June 2023, the country's federal court ordered Meta and the privacy commissioner to enter mediation.

"Today's settlement represents the largest ever payment dedicated to addressing concerns about the privacy of individuals in Australia," the Australian Information Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd said.

Cambridge Analytica, a British consulting firm, was known to have kept personal data of millions of Facebook users without their permission, before using the data predominantly for political advertising, including assisting Donald Trump and the Brexit campaign in the UK.

A Meta spokesperson told Reuters that the company had settled the lawsuit in Australia on a no admission basis, closing a chapter on allegations regarding past practices of the firm.