Zain KSA and Red Sea Global Win 'Best Green Technology' at Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit 2023

Zain KSA and Red Sea Global Win 'Best Green Technology' at Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit 2023
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Zain KSA and Red Sea Global Win 'Best Green Technology' at Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit 2023

Zain KSA and Red Sea Global Win 'Best Green Technology' at Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit 2023

Red Sea Global, the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism developer, and Zain KSA, the leading digital services provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, received the "Best Green Technology" award for their zero-emission 5G network during the 17th edition of the "Telecom Review Leaders" Summit,’ held on December 6 and 7 in Dubai, SPA reported.

The accolade follows the unveiling of the world’s first 5G zero-emission network at the Six Senses Southern Dunes, the Red Sea resort.

"This prestigious accolade honors RSG’s new model of development, putting people and planet first, in line with the best environmental protection and restoration standards. The award also recognizes RSG’s role in setting new standards for building a sustainable tourism sector in Saudi Arabia. The decision to host Zain KSA’s world-first zero-emission 5G network is rooted in our belief in the importance of sustainability to not only preserve the environment but also enhance it for generations to come, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030," said Group Head of Technology at RSG, Dr. Ahmad Al-Suhaili.
Zain KSA’s Marketing and Business Development Executive General Manager, Eng. Sultan Alhadlaq, said: "This award is a recognition of the real impact of our strategic partnership with RSG and our common goals of achieving environmental preservation and sustainability."

"Our goal at Zain KSA is to drive innovation and harness cutting-edge technologies for environmental sustainability and improving people’s quality of life. We have thankfully succeeded in developing a revolutionary 5G network operated entirely through clean energy, as well as purposely-built towers to achieve three main goals: preserving the environment, reducing emissions by utilizing renewable energy, and mitigating visual distortion," he added.

The first zero-emission 5G network worldwide operates entirely on clean energy harnessed from the RSG’s more than 760,000 solar panels. The towers have been built using state-of-the-art 3D printing technology, replacing traditional telco towers while providing high-speed connectivity covering the entire region.



Apple's iPhones to Support Starlink Direct-to-Cell Coverage in US 

Customers walk past an Apple logo inside of an Apple store at Grand Central Station in New York, US, August 1, 2018. (Reuters)
Customers walk past an Apple logo inside of an Apple store at Grand Central Station in New York, US, August 1, 2018. (Reuters)
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Apple's iPhones to Support Starlink Direct-to-Cell Coverage in US 

Customers walk past an Apple logo inside of an Apple store at Grand Central Station in New York, US, August 1, 2018. (Reuters)
Customers walk past an Apple logo inside of an Apple store at Grand Central Station in New York, US, August 1, 2018. (Reuters)

Apple's iPhone devices are now eligible to test SpaceX-owned Starlink's direct-to-cell capability that provides coverage from space, according to T-Mobile, a partner in the program.

T-Mobile and Elon Musk's SpaceX are currently testing the Starlink cell network on a trial basis after receiving approval from the Federal Communications Commission in November last year.

The trial offers 'text via satellite', while voice and data features will be added in the future, according to the T-Mobile website.

T-Mobile initially only listed a few Android smartphones as eligible devices to test the network, but has now added iPhone devices with the latest iOS 18.3 software update.

Bloomberg News first reported on Tuesday that Apple, SpaceX and T-Mobile had been secretively working to add support for the network in its latest iPhone software.

Apple and SpaceX did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment outside regular business hours.

In October last year, the FCC had allowed SpaceX and T-Mobile to enable Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability to provide coverage for cellphones in areas of North Carolina hit hard by Hurricane Helene.