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stc Group Named as 'Best Telecommunications and Digital Services Company' in the Middle East

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stc Group logo
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stc Group Named as 'Best Telecommunications and Digital Services Company' in the Middle East

stc Group logo
stc Group logo

Economy Middle East awarded stc Group the "Telecom & Digital Service Provider of the Year" at its 2024 summit.

Held in Abu Dhabi on May 1, Economy Middle East brings together a number of ministers and industry experts from across the private and public sectors under the theme "Accelerating Future Growth". The program focuses on addressing the key challenges and opportunities across banking, finance, technology, hospitality, tourism, and the future of mobility, according to an stc Group statement.

According to the statement, recognizing stc Group as the leading Telecom and digital Service Provider of the year across the region is a testament to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's progress in driving digital transformation, domestically and worldwide.

stc Group's focus on innovative technology expands across digital infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things (IoT), digital payments, and digital entertainment.

The Economy Middle East Summit award adds to stc Group's exceptional start to 2024. The 2024 Brand Finance Report named stc Group as the leading telecom brand in the Middle East by revenue and ranked the Group as the 149th most valuable brand globally.

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Microsoft Pledges to Protect European Operations, Unveils Data Center Expansion

A Microsoft logo is pictured on a store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, US, January 25, 2021. (Reuters)
A Microsoft logo is pictured on a store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, US, January 25, 2021. (Reuters)
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Microsoft Pledges to Protect European Operations, Unveils Data Center Expansion

A Microsoft logo is pictured on a store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, US, January 25, 2021. (Reuters)
A Microsoft logo is pictured on a store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, US, January 25, 2021. (Reuters)

Microsoft pledged Wednesday to fight any US government order to halt data center operations in Europe as it sought to soothe concerns among European customers that trans-Atlantic tensions would lead to service disruptions.

The company's president, Brad Smith, said it's not something that officials are talking about in Washington, D.C. but it is a “real concern” for Microsoft's customers across Europe, which include governments.

President Donald Trump has stoked tensions between the US and Europe with his tariff-fueled trade war, and alarmed European leaders with policy changes, including pausing intelligence sharing with Ukraine, that throw into doubt his administration's commitment to the trans-Atlantic relationship, The AP news reported.

Smith, speaking at an event in Brussels, tried to allay concerns as he announced that the company was expanding data center operations across Europe.

“What we want Europeans to know is that they can count on us,” he said in a speech.

“In the unlikely event we are ever ordered by any government anywhere in the world to suspend or cease cloud operations in Europe, we are committing that Microsoft will promptly and vigorously contest such a measure using all legal avenues available, including by pursuing litigation in court,” Smith wrote in a Wednesday blog post.

He noted that Microsoft has experience fighting lawsuits from the previous Trump administration as well as from former President Barack Obama’s administration.

“If we ever find ourselves losing we will put in place business continuity arrangements” that include storing computer code in Switzerland that European partners can access, he said.

Microsoft is making five digital commitments to Europe, including increasing its data center capacity by 40 in 16 countries over the next two years, Smith said. The expansion will cost tens of billions of dollars annually. Smith declined to be more specific about the cost when asked by reporters.

The expansion comes amid calls for Europe to assert tech and data sovereignty by weaning itself off reliance from big US cloud data service providers, including Microsoft, Amazon and, to a lesser extent, Google.

“Given recent geopolitical volatility, we recognize that European governments likely will consider additional options,” and Microsoft is committed to collaborating with European companies, Smith said.