News

SpaceX Pitches “Global Roaming” Internet To Starlink Waitlist

The company is offering the $200 per month plan to potential users in countries where Starlink’s service isn’t yet available.

Published

2 years ago

February 20, 2023

Nour Nasir

spacex pitches global roaming internet to starlink waitlist

Although Starlink’s constellation of small satellites is growing fast, regulatory approval is patchy in several large markets, including the Middle East and North Africa region. Reports are now emerging that SpaceX is readying a global roaming service to remedy the issue.

The company recently emailed people on the Starlink waitlist inviting them to try a new $200 per month package offering internet access “from almost anywhere on land in the world”.

NEWS: Starlink is testing a new "Global Roaming Service" for $200/mo, plus the standard $599 for Hardware. Will they offer this as an add-on for $65/mo like portability? @RealTeslaNorth @MarcusTuck3 https://t.co/c2vQhtOUL8 pic.twitter.com/kiLMsMkhDY

— Nathan Owens (@VirtuallyNathan) February 17, 2023

Potential customers will need a Starlink terminal to access the service, which may incur an import fee on top of the device’s $599 price, leading many to question the advantage over the existing $25 Portability Package offered to residential users.

Also Read: Dubai Launches World’s Largest Solar-Powered Data Center

The answer seems to be found in SpaceX’s terms of service, which requires those who spend “an extended period of time” away from home to change their permanent address, with the $25 Portability Package intended as a strictly temporary plan for vacations and business trips.

News

“AI Seal” Certification Now Required For Dubai Gov Partnerships

The new mandatory certification is designed to build trust in AI companies and create a reliable network of providers for government and public collaboration.

Published

22 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Nour Nasir

ai seal certification now required for dubai gov partnerships

Dubai Media Office

Dubai has introduced the Dubai AI Seal, a certification designed to establish trust in artificial intelligence (AI) companies and solutions. This initiative, directed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister, aims to create a reliable network of AI providers which government entities and businesses can collaborate confidently.

Companies must now obtain the AI Seal to qualify for UAE or Dubai government contracts. The Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI), which developed the certification, sees it as a competitive edge for companies looking to participate in key national projects. Once certified, businesses will be permitted to showcase the seal across their websites and marketing materials, signaling their credibility and dependability.

The evaluation process will consider six main criteria: the company’s services and operations, the number of employees specializing in AI, ongoing and future projects, as well as existing partnerships with public and private sector entities.

dubai ai seal certification

Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, which oversees the DCAI, commented on the initiative’s potential: “This initiative will help create powerful partnerships between the public and private sectors, locally, regionally, and globally. It will help drive new economic opportunities by leveraging AI to serve better the economy, society, and the future we aspire to”.

Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East

The Dubai AI Seal’s goals include providing a clear framework for verifying AI providers, fostering business opportunities for AI companies, and acknowledging the industry’s strategic importance to Dubai’s economy. The initiative emphasizes AI’s role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and strengthening collaboration between government bodies and technology firms.

All technology companies operating in Dubai and offering AI-related services or products are eligible to apply for the certification at no cost through the official website.