Saudi Arabia’s stc Group Boosts Network Capacity in Madinah to Serve Pilgrims

stc significantly expanded its data network capacity in Madinah, exceeding last year's capacity by over 35%. (SPA)
stc significantly expanded its data network capacity in Madinah, exceeding last year's capacity by over 35%. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia’s stc Group Boosts Network Capacity in Madinah to Serve Pilgrims

stc significantly expanded its data network capacity in Madinah, exceeding last year's capacity by over 35%. (SPA)
stc significantly expanded its data network capacity in Madinah, exceeding last year's capacity by over 35%. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s stc Group has deployed its technical expertise and digital services to support the thousands of pilgrims visiting Madinah following the Hajj, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday

stc significantly expanded its data network capacity in Madinah, exceeding last year's capacity by over 35%.

This enhancement ensured smooth operation of 5G services, keeping pace with the surging demand for high-speed data. As a result, data traffic volume surged by more than 60% compared to the previous year, building upon the success achieved in Makkah city and the holy sites.

Committed to serving pilgrims, stc played a vital role in facilitating their digital experience. The group meticulously planned for the Hajj season by studying call and data usage patterns in Madinah. It analyzed performance indicators to proactively activate and optimize phone and data services before and during the season.

The comprehensive plan encompassed a thorough inspection of network elements, preventive maintenance, and performance testing to verify network stability. stc analyzed call traffic and data flow patterns to develop contingency plans and ensure network resilience.

stc further expanded its service offerings to enrich the spiritual experience of visitors in Madinah. The group strategically enhanced Wi-Fi access points and implemented internal solutions, aiming to facilitate communication between pilgrims and their families.

This commitment aligns with the Pilgrim Experience Program, a key initiative within Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, ensuring the highest service quality for all pilgrims.



Oracle to Invest $6.5 Bn in Malaysian Cloud Services Region

(FILES) US multinational computer technology company Oracle's logo is pictured at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering, in Barcelona on February 27, 2024. (Photo by PAU BARRENA / AFP)
(FILES) US multinational computer technology company Oracle's logo is pictured at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering, in Barcelona on February 27, 2024. (Photo by PAU BARRENA / AFP)
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Oracle to Invest $6.5 Bn in Malaysian Cloud Services Region

(FILES) US multinational computer technology company Oracle's logo is pictured at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering, in Barcelona on February 27, 2024. (Photo by PAU BARRENA / AFP)
(FILES) US multinational computer technology company Oracle's logo is pictured at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering, in Barcelona on February 27, 2024. (Photo by PAU BARRENA / AFP)

Tech giant Oracle on Wednesday said it plans to invest more than $6.5 billion on cloud services data centers in Malaysia, joining a list of US titans rushing to build up their AI infrastructure in Southeast Asia.

The firm said the cloud region would help organizations in the country modernize their applications, migrate their workload to the cloud and innovate with data, analytics and artificial intelligence.

Oracle is working to expand its cloud infrastructure business globally. The company recently projected it will surpass $100 billion in revenue in fiscal 2029, driven by increasing demand for cloud services.

Malaysia's new cloud region will be the firm's third in Southeast Asia, following two facilities in neighboring Singapore.

"Malaysia offers unique growth opportunities for organizations looking to accelerate their expansion with the latest digital technologies," Garrett Ilg, Oracle's executive vice president for Japan and Asia Pacific, said in a statement.

"Our multi-billion-dollar investment affirms our commitment to Malaysia as a regional gateway for cloud infrastructure as well as a comprehensive suite of software as a service applications deployed within Malaysia."

The statement also quoted Malaysia's Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz as welcoming the investment, saying it would help firms with innovative and cutting-edge AI and cloud technologies to boost their global competitiveness.

"Oracle's decision to establish a public cloud region in Malaysia underscores Malaysia's infrastructure readiness, and its growing position as a premier Southeast Asian destination for digital investments," he added.

Oracle is the latest global tech giant to announce major digital investments in Southeast Asia. Google-parent Alphabet said in May it would invest $2 billion to house the firm's first data center in Malaysia.

Google on Monday said it plans to invest $1 billion to build digital infrastructure in Thailand, including a new data center.

Amazon and Microsoft have also announced investments worth billions of dollars in the region as demand for AI hots up.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday announced that the country plans to develop a National Cloud Policy.