Saudi Arabia’s CST Issues 'GameMode' Report for Q4 2023

The Communications and Space Technology Commission (CST) has released its fourth-quarter 2023 report for the "GameMode" initiative. (SPA)
The Communications and Space Technology Commission (CST) has released its fourth-quarter 2023 report for the "GameMode" initiative. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia’s CST Issues 'GameMode' Report for Q4 2023

The Communications and Space Technology Commission (CST) has released its fourth-quarter 2023 report for the "GameMode" initiative. (SPA)
The Communications and Space Technology Commission (CST) has released its fourth-quarter 2023 report for the "GameMode" initiative. (SPA)

The Communications and Space Technology Commission (CST) in Saudi Arabia has released its fourth-quarter 2023 report for the "GameMode" initiative. The report included a series of guidelines for improving the quality of Internet connections for online games, as well as home network setup and network device efficiency guidelines, CST said in a press release.
The report also highlighted the steps to participate in achieving the objectives of the "GameMode" initiative, by registering for a "Meqyas fixed internet" device, which allows the user to know the internet performance of the most popular apps and online games. The report keeps up with the latest games and includes performance indicators in its periodic editions, which are published quarterly, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The "GameMode" initiative increases competitiveness among telecom service providers to provide the best experience for players while raising the level of transparency in the market by publishing data and indicators' results, along with enabling investors and interested parties to view market performance indicators in Saudi Arabia.



Japan’s Anti-Monopoly Watchdog Accuses Google of Violations in Smartphones 

A woman walks by a giant screen with a logo at an event at the Paris Google Lab on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP)
A woman walks by a giant screen with a logo at an event at the Paris Google Lab on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP)
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Japan’s Anti-Monopoly Watchdog Accuses Google of Violations in Smartphones 

A woman walks by a giant screen with a logo at an event at the Paris Google Lab on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP)
A woman walks by a giant screen with a logo at an event at the Paris Google Lab on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP)

Japanese regulators on Tuesday accused US tech giant Google of violating anti-monopoly laws, echoing similar moves in the US and Europe.

Google Japan said in a statement that it found the action “regrettable.” It said it has invested in Japan significantly to promote innovation as a technology leader.

The Japan Fair Trade Commission’s “cease and desist order” says Google must stop the pre-installation of the Google search engine in Android smartphones, which it said in effect shuts out competition.

It’s unclear if Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., based in Mountain View in the Silicon Valley, will take legal action to fight the order.

In the US, a judge ruled last year that Google’s ubiquitous search engine illegally exploited its dominance to squash competition. Google has denied the allegations, arguing that it’s immensely popular because people like what it offers. The appeals process is likely to take years.

Japanese regulators began their investigation into Google in 2023. They said they consulted with overseas authorities dealing with similar cases.

European regulators have also slammed what they see as Google’s monopolistic dominance.

Tuesday’s move marks the first time the Japan Fair Trade Commission has taken such an action against a major global technology company.