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Nokia and Fibertime™ expand broadband access across South Africa’s underserved communities

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 Nokia today announced that Fibertime will deploy its fiber solution to rapidly expand broadband access to underserved regions of South Africa. Fibertime will quickly connect the next 1.5 million customers leveraging Nokia’s Lightspan FX Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) and Wi-Fi 6 enabled Optical Network Terminals (ONTs). Nokia’s technologies are key to enabling Fibertime’s flagship product: R5 a day for uncapped, unthrottled internet.

Currently, less than 85% of South Africans have access to high-speed broadband, leaving many reliant on costly mobile plans that are up to 70 times more expensive per gigabit than fiber. Through Nokia’s fiber solution, Fibertime will unlock a new wave of affordable, reliable, pay-as-you-go broadband, empowering local communities with increased access to education, employment, and business opportunities. The deployment will help create a semi-mobile network within underserved areas, allowing end-users to access high-speed broadband services from anywhere in the community, not just their homes or businesses.

The fiber deployment will initially cover Cape Town, Johannesburg, Gqeberha, Mangaung and Stellenbosch, with plans to rapidly expand into additional countries and communities. As part of the agreement, Fibertime will deploy 500,000 Nokia Wi-Fi 6 enabled ONTs over the next 36-months, prioritizing homes in underserved areas. Fibertime will also leverage Nokia’s ONT Easystart to automate and simplify the ONT activation process, helping to streamline deployments. Fibertime is also working on an advanced network upgrade powered by Nokia’s Altiplano platform to further drive automation and scale. Nokia and Fibertime are also working on new R&D projects to develop technologies that enhance connectivity and enable operations in Africa’s most remote areas.

Sandy Motley, President of Fixed Networks at Nokia, said: “Nokia’s fiber solution is uniquely positioned to help Fibertime reach millions of underserved customers needing high-speed broadband for essential services like online education and telehealth. Our scalable OLT portfolio provides flexible coverage for both densely populated and rural areas. Paired with our Wi-Fi 6-enabled ONTs, we enable fast, automated onboarding. Together, these solutions allow Fibertime to speed up deployments and provide the capacity to bring thousands of customers online at once.”

Alan Knott-Craig, Founder of Fibertime, said: “With Nokia’s support, we’re confident in our ability to reach 1.5 million homes within the next five years. We’re unlocking a massive, untapped market of 13 million homes in South Africa that are ready for affordable, quality internet. That market will need approximately R60billion of investment over the coming decade and will generate reliable returns for investors. The market opportunity is akin to that presented to mobile operators when they expanded into prepaid markets. Together with Nokia, we can bridge the digital divide, accelerate growth, and create lasting social and economic impact across South Africa.”

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المعرض الدولي للقطاع غير الربحي يشهد توقيع 142 اتفاقية ويستعرض التجارب الخليجية

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‏‎شهد المعرض الدولي لتنمية القطاع غير الربحي “إينا25” في يوميه الأول والثاني حضور 10 آلاف زائر، إضافة إلى توقيع 142 اتفاقية بين جهات حكومية وخاصة بهدف تنمية المسؤولية الاجتماعية والقطاع غير الربحي وزيادة مساهمة هذا القطاع في الناتج المحلي بما ينسجم مع مستهدفات رؤية المملكة 2030.

‏‎واستعرضت المعرض في جلساته لليوم الثاني من المعرض أبرز التجارب الخليجية في تعزيز الشراكة بين القطاع غير الربحي والقطاعات الأخرى، مركّزة على الأطر المؤسسية، والنماذج التمكينية، والتمكين الرقمي. كما ناقشت الجلسات عددًا من الممارسات التنموية والتمكينية التي تسهم في دعم القرى والمناطق الريفية في المملكة، وذلك بمشاركة ممثلين عن عدد من المؤسسات الوطنية.

‏‎وتناول المشاركون أبرز التجارب الناجحة في القطاع غير الربحي بالمملكة، إلى جانب التحديات الراهنة، والتجارب العالمية في هذا القطاع الحيوي. كما ناقشوا النماذج والأطر والسياسات والتشريعات المرتبطة باستدامة المسؤولية الاجتماعية ونمو القطاع غير الربحي.

وبدورة أوضح أحمد بن صالح الماجد وكيل وزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الإجتماعية لتنمية المجتمع أنه إيماناً بأهمية الاستثمار في القطاع غير الربحي وانطلاقاً من رؤية 2030 قامت السعودية بخطوات تمكن هذا القطاع والمنظمات العاملة به من تحقيق الفائدة والعدالة الاجتماعية لجميع أفراد المجتمع، عبر إطلاق مبادرات وطنية وخطط استراتيجية وفق أفضل الممارسات العالمية وبما يتناسب مع احتياجاتها المحلية.

وأضاف على هامش الجلسات الحوارية في المعرض الدولي للقطاع غير الربحي “إينا25″، جاءت الرؤية بمستهدفات واضحة وطموحة، إذ تستهدف المملكة رفع مساهمة القطاع غير الربحي في الناتج المحلي إلى 5% والوصول إلى مليون متطوع بحلول 2030.

وفي هذا الصدد تم إطلاق المنصة الوطنية للتبرعات “تبرع” لبناء نموذج وطني تتجلى به أسمى معاني التكافل الاجتماعي من خلال العطاء والبذل في الخير وإيجاد وسيلة آمنة وشفافة لايصال التبرعات لمحتاجيها تحت مظلة وزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية، إذ بلغ اجمالي التبرعات المقدمة للأفراد والجهات إلى أكثر من 1.4 مليار ريال.

وأفاد أحمد الماجد، أنه من منطلق تعزيز المشاركة المجتمعية للأفراد قامت السعودية بإطلاق المنصة الوطنية للتطوع وهي منصة رقمية تقوم بالربط بين المتطوعين وتمكن القطاع غير الربحي في تصميم وطرح الفرص التطوعية، حيث بلغ إجمالي المتطوعين بنهاية عام 2024 أكثر من 1.2 مليون متطوع، محققةً بذلك مستهدف رؤية 2030 قبل الموعد بـ6 سنوات.

وبيّن أن المسؤولية الاجتماعية تشكل للشركات أحد الركائز الأساسية والوطنية في عملية التنمية الاجتماعية وذلك نظراً لما تملكه شركات القطاع الخاص من موارد وخبرات تجعله شريكاً أساسياً لدعم القطاع غير الربحي ومنظماته وقد قامت المملكة بالعمل على توجيه المسؤولية الاجتماعية للشركات للمساهمة في تلبية الاحتياجات والأولويات التنموية من خلال تفعيل شراكات نوعية وتقديم محفزات وإطلاق المنصة الوطنية للمسؤولية الاجتماعية، حيث تجاوز مساهمة القطاع الخاص في تمويل البرامج والمبادرات التنموية قيمة 3.5 مليار ريال نهاية 2024.

من جهته قال أحمد بن محمد البدر، نائب الرئيس التنفيذي لقطاع الاستراتيجية بالمركز الوطني لتنمية القطاع غير الربحي، إن هذا الحدث يأتي في وقت يشهد فيه القطاع غير الربحي في المملكة نموًا متسارعًا وملحوظًا.

‏‎وأكد أن القطاع غير الربحي في المملكة يحظى باهتمام كبير من قيادة الحكومة، وقد ترسخت ملامح هذا الاهتمام منذ انطلاق رؤية المملكة 2030، حيث أصبح للقطاع دور محوري في التنمية المستدامة وتمكين الإنسان وبناء مجتمع حيوي.

‏‎فيما قال محمد بن حسن العبيدلي، المدير العام للمكتب التنفيذي لمجلس وزراء العمل ووزراء الشؤون الاجتماعية بدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية، إن القطاع غير الربحي شهد في السنوات الأخيرة تطورًا ملحوظًا في أدواته التنموية والاقتصادية والاجتماعية.
‏‎وأشار إلى أن التوقعات من هذا القطاع تزايدت ليكون شريكًا فاعلًا في تحقيق التنمية المستدامة، وليس فقط مكمّلًا للجهود الحكومية.

‏‎واعتبر العبيدلي أن دعم هذا القطاع الحيوي وتمكينه وتفعيل الشراكات يُعد استثمارًا اجتماعيًا استراتيجيًا يعزّز استمرار مجتمعاتنا ويسهم في التنمية الشاملة.

الجدير بالذكر أن المعرض الدولي للقطاع غير الربحي (إينا)، الذي انطلق في نسخته الثالثة بالرياض، يُعد منصة رائدة تجمع الجهات غير الربحية مع القطاعين الحكومي والخاص والمؤسسات الدولية، بهدف دعم التعاون وتبادل الخبرات وتنمية الحلول والابتكارات التي تعزز مساهمة القطاع في التنمية المستدامة.

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Al Dahra Forges Strategic Partnership with Getreide AG Ukraine to Bolster Global Grain Supply Chain

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Al Dahra, a global leader in agribusiness, has signed an exclusive agreement with Getreide AG Ukraine to establish strategic grain sourcing operations in Ukraine, significantly expanding Al Dahra’s global footprint and supply chain capabilities.
This landmark partnership grants Al Dahra direct access to Ukraine’s abundant and highly productive agricultural sector, which stands as one of the world’s leading exporters of wheat, corn, and barley on the global stage. The collaboration strengthens Al Dahra’s competitive position in international grain markets while ensuring reliable supply to its customers across the Middle East and Africa.
Under the agreement, Al Dahra `will initially source between 100,000 and 150,000 metric tonnes of agricultural commodities, with plans to scale operations beyond 500,000 metric tonnes. This Ukrainian venture complements Al Dahra’s established operations in Serbia, Romania, Egypt, and the United States, creating a robust and diversified global sourcing network.
“This partnership marks a pivotal advancement in our global strategy to secure resilient supply chains for our customers,” said Arnoud van den Berg, Group CEO, Al Dahra. “Our exclusive relationship with Getreide AG Ukraine positions us strategically in one of the world’s most vital agricultural regions, enhancing our ability to meet growing global food demand.”
Despite regional challenges, Ukraine remains a cornerstone of global food security, with projections to export more than 60 million metric tonnes of agricultural commodities this year. This partnership enables Al Dahra to leverage Ukraine’s agricultural prowess while supporting international food security initiatives.
The integration of operations is scheduled for completion before the new crop season in July 2025, with dedicated teams from both companies collaborating to ensure a seamless transition and immediate operational efficiency.
This partnership will further strengthen Al Dahra’s capabilities as a leading player in grains trading, enhancing its market position and ability to respond dynamically to global supply and demand fluctuations.

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Alteryx Introduces a Unified Platform for Enterprise Analytics and AI Orchestration

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Alteryx, Inc., a leading AI and data analytics company, today announced Alteryx One, a unified suite of AI-powered analytics capabilities that give customers greater flexibility to automate and scale analytics across their data ecosystems. The release also introduces new features that simplify access to trusted, governed, and AI-ready enterprise data.
A Unified Platform for AI-Powered Analytics
Traditional analytics solutions often force trade-offs between flexibility, governance, and innovation. Alteryx One eliminates these barriers by unifying powerful analytics automation, low-code, no-code data prep and blend, AI assistance, cloud flexibility, and enterprise governance, into a seamless, centrally managed platform.
The introduction of a centralized portal allows customers to seamlessly manage their entire Alteryx portfolio, regardless of deployment model. Alteryx’s new AI Control Center offers unified orchestration, combining licensing management with built-in security, governance, and visibility into all AI interactions, including large language models (LLMs). This centralized control helps ensure consistent access and usage policies across the platform.
“This launch marks a major step forward in making analytics accessible, collaborative, and intelligent,” said Ben Canning, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx. “The future of AI-powered analytics is about choice and connection. Alteryx One empowers organizations with the flexibility to access analytics in any way they need and to help ensure their data is AI-ready. This release is built to help organizations scale insights, automate intelligently, and stay ahead of AI, on their own terms.”
Karl Crowther, Vice President – MEA & APAC, Alteryx: “As governments across the Middle East double down on national AI strategies and digital transformation initiatives, platforms like Alteryx One are becoming vital to turning ambition into action. The UAE’s AI Strategy 2031 and Saudi Arabia’s $100 billion AI and data investment reflect a clear regional mandate to empower people and systems with smarter, faster, and more scalable tools. With Alteryx One, we’re enabling public and private organizations to align with this vision, bridging data silos and unlocking AI-powered insights across the enterprise with confidence and control.”
With new tiered packaging and a unified licensing portal, Alteryx One provides organizations with centralized control over user access, permissions, and license management, enabling secure, scalable analytics across the enterprise.
Direct Access to Data Platforms
As enterprise data increasingly moves to the cloud, organizations need faster, more secure ways to work directly with their cloud data without costly data movement or unnecessary replication. Alteryx One delivers this by making data platforms an extension of the analytics environment with expanded connectivity and deeper integrations, such as Pre-/Post-SQL support for In-DB tools, enabling more advanced data processing.
Additionally, real-time data access via Live Query for Databricks, the Data and AI company, and Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company, turns Alteryx into a direct window into the data platforms. Customers can now work with massive datasets in real time, accelerating data preparation while maintaining security and performance.
Alteryx One also introduces shared connectors and plans, enabling IT teams to establish secure, reusable connections to cloud data sources. To support broader enterprise needs, Alteryx One expands connectivity with new and updated connectors for platforms like Azure Synapse, Qlik, and Starburst, along with enhancements to improve cloud pushdown processing. Together, these enhancements simplify cloud adoption for analytics teams and deliver faster access, lower costs, and stronger governance without compromising flexibility or control.

Delivering Trusted, AI-Ready Data
Customers like Siemens Energy are leveraging Alteryx to extract, prepare, and blend data — fostering data democratization, and a digital mindset. This transformation includes the successful adoption of AI and LLMs, for example, to unlock valuable insights from previously hard-to-access and non-digitized data. By integrating Alteryx with a data platform and LLMs, Siemens Energy has developed an AI-powered chatbot that enables users to query extensive document repositories.

A recent Alteryx survey found that data integration continues to be a significant challenge for data analysts. Nearly half (46%) of analysts report that data quality issues are their biggest obstacle when preparing data. This challenge is amplified as more organizations move their data to the cloud, increasing the demand for faster and more seamless access to data in cloud data platforms. In today’s AI-driven business environment, these difficulties inhibit organizations’ ability to efficiently prepare data for analytics and AI applications.
As organizations seek to balance the benefits of AI initiatives and the challenge of AI governance for broad usage analytics, Alteryx One delivers scaled access to data and AI across the business for all knowledge workers in one unified platform. New capabilities include a suite of powerful AI-driven features designed to streamline analytics and decision-making. Magic Reports leverages AI to automatically create customized, dynamic reports, significantly reducing manual effort and enabling faster, more insightful reporting. Alteryx Copilot, currently in public preview, is an interactive assistant that transforms user questions into actionable workflows in real time, going beyond traditional chatbots to offer intelligent guidance and tool recommendations. Meanwhile, the GenAI Tools, in private preview, integrate generative AI directly into workflows to automate complex tasks and unlock new ways to generate insights and orchestrate logic. With support for leading LLMs like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Gemini, these tools empower users to move past routine automation and embrace the full potential of AI. Together, these innovations make it easier for organizations to scale AI initiatives, enhance productivity, and drive smarter business outcomes across the enterprise.

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