stc Powers Up Esports World Cup with Cutting-Edge 5G Network

 stc has equipped one of the largest operations centers in the region with ultra-high-resolution 168-megapixel displays - SPA
stc has equipped one of the largest operations centers in the region with ultra-high-resolution 168-megapixel displays - SPA
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stc Powers Up Esports World Cup with Cutting-Edge 5G Network

 stc has equipped one of the largest operations centers in the region with ultra-high-resolution 168-megapixel displays - SPA
stc has equipped one of the largest operations centers in the region with ultra-high-resolution 168-megapixel displays - SPA

stc Group has announced its early readiness to support the upcoming 2025 edition of the Esports World Cup (EWC). As an Elite and Founding Partner of EWC, stc is deploying cutting-edge technology and robust infrastructure designed to deliver an exceptional, high-performance, and reliable gaming experience for participants and audiences alike, according to a press release issued by stc, SPA reported.

Following its pivotal role in powering the inaugural EWC in 2024, stc returns this year to support the world's largest gaming event with even more advanced capabilities. Central to this year's network infrastructure are intelligent monitoring systems featuring AI-driven traffic modeling, Self-Optimizing Networks (SON), and closed-loop automation, technologies that provide proactive insights and real-time network adjustments to ensure uninterrupted connectivity throughout the event.

As part of its comprehensive preparations, stc has deployed 27 advanced 5G towers across key tournament areas, including three towers dedicated exclusively to the event center. Within the venue buildings, an extensive indoor solutions network, supported by more than 1,295 antennas, will deliver high-speed 4G and 5G services, with internet speeds exceeding 2 Gbps, ensuring smooth, responsive gameplay and seamless digital engagement.

Additionally, stc has equipped one of the largest operations centers in the region with ultra-high-resolution 168-megapixel displays, enabling real-time monitoring of network performance and service utilization across all EWC facilities. This state-of-the-art center ensures immediate incident response and optimal service quality for both participants and attendees, the release added.

To further enhance network efficiency, stc has implemented Software-Defined Networking (SDN) technologies, enabling agile and uninterrupted data flow throughout the tournament. The company has also expanded coverage across the venue by over 20% compared to last year, ensuring stronger and more consistent connectivity.

In the 2024 EWC, stc's integrated digital infrastructure played a crucial role in the tournament's success, delivering 99.9% network availability and ultra-low latency. This allowed players to enjoy a world-class gaming experience aligned with the highest international standards.

These efforts earned stc the prestigious "Platinum Operator" award from the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission for the eighth consecutive year, as highlighted in the annual GameMode report, further solidifying its leadership in digital infrastructure and telecommunications services within the esports sector.



Trump Joins Tech and Energy Executives amid AI Push

A car drives past a building of the Digital Reality Data Center in Ashburn, Virginia, US, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
A car drives past a building of the Digital Reality Data Center in Ashburn, Virginia, US, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
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Trump Joins Tech and Energy Executives amid AI Push

A car drives past a building of the Digital Reality Data Center in Ashburn, Virginia, US, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
A car drives past a building of the Digital Reality Data Center in Ashburn, Virginia, US, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

President Donald Trump will join executives from some of the largest US tech and energy companies for a summit in Pittsburgh on Tuesday as the administration prepares fresh measures to power the US expansion of artificial intelligence.

Top economic rivals US and China are locked in a technological arms race over who can dominate AI as the technology takes on increasing importance everywhere from corporate boardrooms to the battlefield.

The Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University is expected to bring tech executives and officials from top energy and tech firms including Meta, Microsoft, Alphabet and Exxon Mobil to discuss how to position the US as a leader in AI. Trump will use the summit - put together by US Senator Dave McCormick, a Republican ally from Pennsylvania - to announce some $70 billion in artificial intelligence and energy investments in the state, Reuters reported.

Big Tech is scrambling to secure vast amounts of electricity supplies to power the energy-guzzling data centers needed for its rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. Companies began announcing their plans in early on Tuesday, with Google inking a $3 billion electricity deal and CoreWeave touting a $6 billion AI data center.

Google will invest $25 billion in regional data centers, while FirstEnergy will invest $15 billion in Pennsylvania's energy grid, Semafor reported. The CEOs expected to attend include Khaldoon Al-Mubarak of Mubadala, Rene Haas of Arm, Larry Fink of BlackRock, Darren Woods of ExxonMobil, Brendan Bechtel of Bechtel and Dario Amodei of Anthropic. The White House is considering executive actions in the coming weeks to make it easier for power-generating projects to connect to the grid and also provide federal land on which to build the data centers needed to expand AI technology, Reuters previously reported.

The administration is also weighing streamlining permitting for data centers by creating a nationwide Clean Water Act permit, rather than requiring companies to seek permits on a state-by-state basis.

Mike Sommers, head of the influential American Petroleum Institute, said executive action is welcomed to unlock the energy needed to power the data centers, but a more durable solution is needed.

"Real durable permitting reform requires an act of Congress, not just an executive order," Sommers said in an interview with Reuters. Trump ordered his administration in January to produce an AI Action Plan that would make "America the world capital in artificial intelligence" and reduce regulatory barriers to its rapid expansion.

That report, which includes input from the National Security Council, is due by July 23. The White House is considering making July 23 "AI Action Day" to draw attention to the report and demonstrate its commitment to expanding the industry, Reuters has reported.

US power demand is hitting record highs this year after nearly two decades of stagnation as AI and cloud computing data centers balloon in numbers and size across the country. The demand is also leading to unprecedented deals between the power industry and technology companies, including the attempted restart of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania between Constellation Energy and Microsoft.

The surge has led to concerns about power shortages that threaten to raise electricity bills and increase the risk of blackouts, while slowing Big Tech in its global race against countries like China to dominate artificial intelligence.