News

Telecom Provider du Launches 5G+ Network At Sharjah Airport

Sharjah becomes the United Arab Emirate’s first airport with full 5G+ coverage, advancing the country’s smart infrastructure push.

Published

10 months ago

October 19, 2025

Nour Nasir

telecom provider du launches 5g+ network at sharjah airport

Sharjah International Airport has switched on a next-generation 5G+ network in partnership with telecom provider du, becoming the first airport in the UAE to run the technology across its facilities. The announcement was made at GITEX Global 2025, signaling a step forward in the emirate’s plan to modernize aviation operations and strengthen national connectivity standards.

The network delivers high-speed, low-latency coverage through every terminal, enabling real-time data, cloud-based operations, and digital passenger services such as automated check-ins and interactive wayfinding. Designed for dense environments, the system offers stable performance even in areas that typically face signal drop-offs. It also lays the groundwork for upcoming applications like IoT-enabled logistics, predictive maintenance tools, and immersive travel experiences.

H.E. Ali Salem Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said the collaboration “represents an important step toward consolidating the airport’s position as a state-of-the-art hub for adopting the latest technologies,” in line with Sharjah’s wider digital transformation agenda.

Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of du, added: “The achievement at Sharjah International Airport exemplifies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in telecommunications technology. We aim to enable a transformed travel experience while setting new global standards for airport network performance by deploying the UAE’s most advanced 5G+ indoor system. Our partnership with Sharjah Airport Authority highlights how strategic collaboration can drive innovation that benefits our customers, supports national digital transformation goals, and positions the UAE at the forefront of smart infrastructure development”.

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Du built the energy-efficient system using advanced network design and optimization tools, ensuring uniform connectivity while reducing power use. It supports ultra-low latency links essential for next-wave services such as augmented and virtual reality, and integrates with the airport’s smart management platforms.

The rollout supports the UAE’s national vision for smart cities and sustainable digital infrastructure. It positions Sharjah alongside other regional innovation hubs investing in connected transport, setting a benchmark for how telecom infrastructure can drive operational efficiency and enhance passenger experience.

News

Instagram Redraws Its Wordmark And The Internet Reads “Instagzam”

Instagram’s first wordmark refresh in a decade arrives with new fonts, a restrained gradient — and a Reddit verdict of sidegrade.

Published

4 days ago

August 14, 2026

Nour Nasir

Instagram

Although Instagram’s famous camera icon hasn’t changed, the company has refreshed the handwritten wordmark at the top of its app. This is the first redesign we’ve seen in ten years, and one the internet promptly set about renaming.

“The wordmark at the top of the app hasn’t changed in 10 years, so it was time for a refresh,” Instagram head Adam Mosseri wrote in a post on August 13, describing the new version as “cleaner and more modern” while keeping references to the original design.

Instagram says its team explored hundreds of options — all-caps lettering, camera-inspired concepts, even literal handwriting — before returning to script. “Script reflects individuality, so referencing that felt right,” Instagram director of product design Jasmine Probst said in Meta’s announcement. “The new wordmark is bolder and simpler, with touches of unexpectedness. It cues individual expression, a personal voice, both of which have always been core to Instagram”.

The wordmark is part of a broader brand overhaul: an updated Instagram Sans typeface, two new fonts — the hand-drawn Instagram Pen and Instagram Mono — plus refreshed motion and layouts, and more restrained use of the signature gradient. The wordmark is rolling out globally now, with the rest arriving throughout 2026 and beyond.

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The design mixes cursive and print lettering, some characters connected and others floating free. That hybrid approach, combined with unusually shaped “s” and “r” characters, led some users to conclude the logo actually reads “Instagzam”. On the r/logodesign subreddit, one user said the wordmark looked “fan-made,” like something built in Canva; another called it “an unsettling mix of manuscript and cursive”; a third summarized it as a “sidegrade” — or, inevitably, a “zidegrade”.

Not everyone was hostile to the new look. Some found the half-cursive design stylish and surprisingly readable, while others called it an improvement on its predecessor, and one commenter argued Instagram was simply adopting minimalist branding later than everyone else. Either way, the platform now has a refreshed identity, three updated fonts, and an unofficial new pronunciation.