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Intellian Signs Multi-Year Partnership Agreement with Speedcast to Meet Accelerated Satellite Communications Demand

The leading provider of satellite communications technology announces agreement with global connectivity solutions provider to serve emerging and existing markets

PYEONGTAEK, South Korea, Aug. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intellian, a leading provider of future-proof satellite communications technology solutions, has announced a multi-year partnership agreement with Speedcast, one of the world’s largest satellite communications service providers. The multi-million-dollar agreement will enable Intellian and Speedcast to collaborate in serving multiple markets with future-proof satellite connectivity, including the maritime and energy sectors.

The partnership builds upon the success of the existing relationship between the two organizations in the energy, commercial maritime and cruise industries, and comes at a promising time for the industry, which has been experiencing a recent explosion in demand. As part of the agreement, Intellian will continue to provide equipment to Speedcast as a preferred supplier, ensuring delivery to meet customer needs, despite volatile supply chain constraints. Specifically, this equipment encompasses the full range of Intellian’s maritime portfolio, from the C700 up to v240M/MT models, as well as LEO antenna systems and the inclusion of future land antennas, enabling Speedcast to serve every market. Additionally, Intellian will support continued equipment upgrades across Speedcast’s existing customer sites.

Intellian’s expanding product portfolio, from the industry-leading v240MT Tri-band antenna, NX Maritime VSAT Series to the recently announced range of Enterprise terminals, will enable Speedcast to meet increasing customer demand amidst growth in the satellite communications sector. The upcoming launch of another factory in Pyeongtaek, South Korea will boost production and supercharge capacity, enabling Intellian to deliver optimized logistics and warehousing capabilities to Speedcast.

The agreement comes on the heels of Speedcast’s recent renewals with all of its major cruise customers and the expansion of its Unified Global Platform (UGP), with the addition of 13 Gbps of capacity to its network, in part to support European and Alaskan cruise requirements. Speedcast’s platform now includes 30 Gbps of total bandwidth, which the company leverages in the design and deployment of complete managed connectivity solutions for customers across energy, passenger and commercial maritime, and enterprise markets.

Eric Sung, CEO and President at Intellian, commented: “Intellian is delighted to announce this strengthened partnership with Speedcast, building on an existing successful relationship. With Speedcast’s global presence and expertise across multiple market sectors, this agreement signifies an important partnership for the industry. The collaboration will allow us to continue to provide innovative solutions and value to customers globally, addressing the burgeoning demand for satellite communications across the markets we serve.”

Joe Spytek, CEO at Speedcast, shared: “Speedcast’s industry-leading portfolio and extensive multi-technology terrestrial and offshore network are well-matched with Intellian’s best-in-class technology solutions to serve our customers across the globe. We look forward to our continued collaboration, enabling the seamless delivery of critical connectivity solutions to meet the needs of our valued customers in all the markets we serve.”

About Intellian Technologies, Inc.

Intellian is driven by a passion for innovation and an agile responsiveness to customer needs. As the crucial link between satellite networks and millions of people on Earth, Intellian’s leading technology and antennas empower global connectivity across oceans and continents, organizations and communities. Strategic thinking, an obsession with quality and a proven ability to deliver enables Intellian to invent for the future, creating mutual success for partners and customers as the world’s connectivity needs evolve. For more information, follow @intellian and visit intelliantech.com. Intellian Technologies Inc. is listed on the Korean Stock Exchange, KOSDAQ (189300:KS).

About Speedcast
Speedcast is a leading communications and IT services provider, delivering critical communications services to the Maritime, Energy, Mining, Media, Telecom, Cruise, NGO, Government, and Enterprise sectors. The company leverages its global network platform to provide fully connected systems that harness technologies and applications to transform what remote operations can achieve. With one of the world’s most comprehensive networks, Speedcast enables faster, seamless pole-to-pole coverage from a global hybrid satellite, fiber, cellular, microwave, MPLS, and IP transport network with direct access to public cloud platforms. The company integrates differentiated technology offerings that provide smarter ways to communicate and distribute content, manage network and remote operations, protect and secure investments, and improve the crew and guest experience. With a passionate customer focus and a strong safety culture, Speedcast serves more than 3,200 customers in over 140 countries. Learn more at www.speedcast.com.

Speedcast® is a trademark and registered trademark. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective owners.

© 2022 Speedcast. All rights reserved.

Intellian Contact:
Stacey Nardozzi
Account Director at The Octopus Group
[email protected]

Speedcast Contact:
Alix Wright
SVP, Global Marketing and Communications
[email protected]

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Saint Lucia government to uplift infrastructure through CIP-Funds

Castries, Aug. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The government of Saint Lucia has been focusing on the development of more resilient and advanced public infrastructure to enhance the wellbeing of its citizens. The government has been modernising and redeveloping schools, healthcare centres, hospitals and housing along with creating employment for the locals of Saint Lucia.

The economy of a country requires reliable infrastructure to secure rapid economic growth. The Saint Lucia government realises the need and has been making sizeable investments and creating high-quality jobs to uplift overall living standards.

Infrastructure is undoubtedly the building block that makes the economy possible, shaping how the natives of Saint Lucia can move, communicate and earn a living. The government is making investments in strategic areas to increase social mobility, access to jobs, essential services, educational opportunities and ideas.

Making it their top priority, the government has been working with a new vision and with the newly elected government, led by Prime Minister Philip J Pierre at the helm, have been working hard to provide its people with better infrastructure. The government anticipates building and shaping a new, prosperous and resilient future with the help of the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP).

Launched in 2016, the Citizenship by Investment Programme of Saint Lucia is the newest and most advanced programme in the Caribbean, providing alternative citizenship to high-net-worth investors (HNWIs). Apart from this, the CIP also helps the country in areas of upliftment and advancement. The Citizenship by Investment Programme plays an important role in building and creating a better future.

The government has assured residents and citizens of the country that they will see an increase in developed infrastructure in the upcoming years. The new government endeavours to utilise the funds generated through the programme to build new housing units, schools, hospitals and healthcare, wellness centres, roads, bridges, sports complexes and other projects of public interest.

The world came to a standstill during the COVID-19 pandemic and this in turn placed a spotlight on the need for strong and advanced health infrastructure to manage possible healthcare crises in the future. Saint Lucia has assured the general public that having a new, developed health sector equipped with modern amenities is a priority. The Ministry of Health and Wellness of the country is also taking urgent steps to strengthen the healthcare sector through the CIP of Saint Lucia.

The government of Saint Lucia has announced that part of these plans include the country   building a new “smart” hospital with modern equipment and advanced treatment techniques. The hospital will be funded via the Citizenship by Investment Programme of Saint Lucia.

The health ministry of Saint Lucia also recently received a donation of equipment to enhance the healthcare facilities at St Jude Hospital. The hospital now has two significant pieces of medical equipment – a haematology analyser and an immunoassay analyser, which will strengthen the delivery of diagnostic tests in the laboratory of the hospital. This was a significant donation by the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Jenny Daniel.

With the installation of new facilities and technology, the government and health ministry also provide training to the medical personnel concerned to enhance their knowledge and broaden their skills.

These upliftments, advancements and developments are either partially or fully funded by the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) of Saint Lucia. The country has been welcoming investors and their families to apply for alternative citizenship since 2016. Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Programme has performed exceptionally well in the CBI Index 2021, a publication of the PWM Magazine of the Financial Times. The programme ranked four and topped three out of nice pillars of excellence, including minimum investment outlay, mandatory travel or residence and ease of processing.

Besides being one of the top choices for honeymooners and couples, Saint Lucia is also emerging as a choice for High Net Worth Individuals (HWNIs) across the globe for providing numerous business opportunities which will help in wealth planning and portfolio diversification. After witnessing global disasters and biological calamities, the world has become uncertain, and investors and individuals are looking to find a safe, stable and secure environment to spend their life. The CIP Programme of Saint Lucia meets all these requirements. Through this platform, the investors can explore new business opportunities, along with providing a secure future for their children.

An investor can apply for the alternative citizenship of Saint Lucia through the National Economic Fund Investment Option. The Economic Fund Option is popularly known as the Fund Option and contributes toward the socio-economic development of the country. The minimum investment under the Fund Option of Saint Lucia starts from USD 100,000.

The CIP is also known for being one of the most transparent in the industry, providing investors and applicants with an opportunity to access information on how funds are used. Another pillar which makes the CIP of Saint Lucia a strong candidate is its robust due-diligence procedures. The process is conducted by the CIP Unit of Saint Lucia and an independent third-party firm.

The Citizenship by Investment Programme is chosen by investors for the following reasons: 

  • Makes an individual a global citizen
  • Assists the applicant in expanding business overseas and helps in portfolio diversification and wealth planning
  • Provides an opportunity to spend the rest of their life in a peaceful and safe environment
  • Offers citizenship for life to the investor, which can be passed on to future generations
  • It’s a Plan B for the applicants and their families

The investor(s) can apply for the alternative citizenship of Saint Lucia by following the below-mentioned steps:

Step 1: Choose an Authorized Agent to process your application

Step 2: Complete the application

Step 3: Submit the application to the CIP Portal

Step 4: The documents and applications are then verified by the CIP Unit and undergo thorough due-diligence background checks

Step 5: The board takes the decision on the rejection or selection of the application

Step 6: The certificates are then handed over to the applicant 

St Lucia PR
Saint Lucia
+27828215664
nandi.canning@csglobalpartners.com
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New medical school named American Canadian School of Medicine in Dominica to be operational by 2023

Roseau, Aug. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The government of Dominica continues to make new investments in the education sector. The small Caribbean country is preparing its youngsters for the future by utilising technology to advance the sector. Dominica understands that education provides an individual with the knowledge and skills to adapt to the changing and evolving world.

The education sector is one of the key development pillars which Dominica is focussing on in order to achieve its plans for upliftment. Education is key to the growth and success of any nation and the government of Dominica recognises the significant impact it will have on the future of its people, especially its youth.

The journey thus far has included the construction of various schools, colleges and universities, equipped with modern facilities whose mandate is to provide quality education. While recently presenting the 1.3 billion dollar budget for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 in the Parliament of Dominica, Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit announced that the country planned to open a new medical school, named the American Canadian School of Medicine. The Prime Minister stated that the new medical school would be managed and operated at the campus of the Ross University in Picard, Portsmouth, by CSOM Holdings Limited.

He announced that the American Canadian School of Medicine will provide a 4-year Medical Degree (MD) and will be operational from September 2023 after several months of negotiations between the government and CSOM Holdings Limited. It will be a world-class university and will be headed by a team of experienced doctors from various universities in the United States of America. It is expected that students from across the globe, especially those from Canada, the USA and around the Caribbean, will consider pursuing their medical degrees at this new facility.

“The school will offer a four-year medical degree designed for students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree. It will be run by an experienced team comprising doctors who have held positions at major universities in the United States, including a former vice president of operations at the Ross University School of Medicine,” said Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

Prime Minister Skerrit urged Dominicans to prepare themselves for the opportunities which the return of a medical school to Portsmouth will create. There will be a demand for additional lab technicians, scrub technicians, nurses, other health care workers, pharmacists and ancillary and support personnel. The government is optimistic about the potential of this new school and its positive impact on Dominica, especially the people in the north.

While presenting the budget, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit also assured that the government of Dominica would continue to focus on the upliftment of the medical and healthcare sector by upgrading and installing new medical equipment. During the past fiscal year, the government had pursued several projects, including the repair of existing health centres and the implementation of the OECS regional health project which focuses on improving health facilities and strengthening health services, laboratories, public health surveillance and emergency management.

To date, the Citizenship by Investment programme has assisted the government in completing the construction of 12 new Health and Wellness Centres. The Dominica China Friendship Hospital is also nearing completion and the construction of the new Reginald Armour Hospital in Portsmouth will commence soon.

Dominica established its Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) in 1993 to provide socio-economic development assistance in the country. The programme has allowed the government to grant citizenship to investors who in turn bolster Dominica’s economic development.

Alternative citizenship comes with various lifestyle and business opportunities, which include:

1. Dominica’s alternative citizenship can be a Plan B in this uncertain world.

2. By becoming a Dominican citizen, you can become a global citizen.

3. Alternative citizenship of Dominica opens doors to expanding business globally.

4. Investors can plan their wealth and diversify their portfolios.

5. Dominican citizenship allows one to live in a peaceful, safe and secure environment.

The programme aims to boost foreign economic contributions to Dominica and help grow its economy. The programme will also contribute to meeting the demands of a modern and competitive global market. There are two options which investors can follow in order to obtain citizenship. They can make a donation towards major development projects in both the public and private sectors or invest in government-approved real estate.

Economic Diversification Fund (EDF): This investment option is popularly known as the Fund Option, which encourages the socio-economic development of the country. It supports the public sector and helps run social programmes in the country, including housing, education, agriculture, tourism and healthcare. The minimum investment for the main applicant is US$ 100,000.

Real Estate Investment Option: Under this option, the individual(s) must invest in a government-approved real estate property, including hotels, spas, and villas. The minimum investment for the main applicant is the US$ 200,000. 

Dominica PR
Commonwealth of Dominica
+27828215664
nandi.canning@csglobalpartners.com
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Alleged business robbery plan disrupted, one suspect arrested in possession of firearm with ammunition

NELSPRUIT – The networks of criminals continue to be dismantled as police work hard to make an impact through partnering with members of the public with a clear mandate to clamp down on crime. This has been evident with the arrest of a suspect in possession of a firearm with ammunition. A 29-year-old male suspect was apprehended at Balfour on Tuesday, 16 August 2022 around 12:30 pm.

The arrest of the suspect came after police from Balfour received information about a group of suspects who were driving in a white Toyota Etios and were plotting to rob a local clothing store. Some members of the community joined hands with the police to assist in preventing this plot by leading police to a suspicious vehicle and its occupants through the information they have provided.

A vehicle, fitting the description as given was spotted in town. Members attempted to intercept it but the driver failed to stop and sped off however, the vehicle was swiftly cornered near a High School in town (Balfour). The suspects had already alighted from the vehicle to evade the arrest except one suspect who was arrested on the spot.

The vehicle (Toyota Etios) was subsequently searched by the police wherein an unlicensed firearm and ammunition were found in the possession of the suspect. The serial number of the firearm was filed off. On further investigation, police also established that the number plates of the vehicle were not matching the ones displayed on the license disc hence the suspect was arrested on the spot and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm with ammunition. The vehicle was also seized as part of the investigation. Police cannot rule out the possibility that the vehicle could have previously been used in the commission of crime elsewhere.

Police are still in pursuit of the remaining suspects. It is hoped that within a short space of time their whereabouts will be made known. Members of the community can either call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via the MySAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

The arrested suspect is expected to appear at the Balfour Magistrate’s Court today facing the said charges. Police cannot rule out the possibility of linking the suspect to other crimes committed elsewhere as the probe continues.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has praised members of the public for coming forth with information which led to the successful arrest. “Winning the war against crime needs the collaborative efforts between the police and the community hence we experience successes whenever that happens. We hope that the remaining suspects will soon be brought to book as well,” said the General.

Source: South African Police Service

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Water and Sanitation on national water levels

National water levels continue to diminish albeit in small margins

The Department of Water and Sanitation’s weekly status of dams report demonstrate that the country’s water levels are on a continual decrease due to the lack of rains in the last few weeks. This week, the overall national storage capacity of the country’s reservoirs is at 92.3%, a tiny reduction from last week’s 92.4%, and a significant improvement from last year’s 81.5%.

The biggest Water Supply System, Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) with 14 dams across four provinces dipped marginally from 99.2% last week to 98.9% this week. Some of the Water Supply Systems that have declined are; Bloemfontein from 98.2% last week to 98.1% this week. Both Crocodile East and West experienced a reduction by the tiniest margin from 100.2% to 100.0% and 98.1% to 97.7% respectively.

Continuing with the downward movement in as far as Water Supply System are concerned were; Luvuvhu from 100.9% to 100.8%, Umhlathuze from 100.1% to 100.0%, Polokwane from 101.3% to 100.9%, and Umgeni dropped from 98.1% to 97.8%.

On the positive note, Algoa Water Supply System with dams supplying water to Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is among the systems that have recorded slight improvement, increasing slightly from 15.0% last week to 15.1% this week. However, the system remains low and dams are still struggling to recover from the persisting drought in the area. Butterworth also moved up somewhat from 99.7% to 100.0% and Cape Town also increased from 75.3% to 76.3%.

Seven out of nine provinces have recorded downwards movements in water levels namely, Free State from 99.7% to 99.6%, KwaZulu-Natal from 88.7% to 88.5%, Limpopo from 88.0% to 87.7%, Gauteng from 100.2% to 99.6%, Mpumalanga from 94.8% to 94.5%, North West from 80.0% to 79.6% and Northern Cape from 109.3% to 106.9%.

On the improvement segment is Western Cape which increased from 63.9% to 64.6% and Eastern Cape from 69.5% to 70.2%.

The Gariep, which is South Africa’s largest dam, was 97.4% last week and is sitting at 97.7% this week. While Sterkfontein Dam, a reserve dam within IVRS, is at 100.2%, showing a minor decrease from last week’s water level of 100.3%. Vaal Dam has declined from 100.9% to 100.1%.

The Department of Water and Sanitation continues to urge the public to save and use water sparingly as we remain a water scarce country.

Residents in the city of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni are warned to expect an 87-hour approximately five days water outage this week due to maintenance work on key pipelines in Gauteng. Maintenance commences on Friday 19 August 2022 at 09:30 until 13:00 on Tuesday 23 August 2022.

For more information, contact Sputnik Ratau, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation on 082 874 2942

Source: Government of South Africa

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Transport on speculation on possible fuel levy increase

Statement on speculation on possible fuel levy increase

The Minister of Transport, Minister Fikile Mbalula, has noted with concern the speculation being peddled by the Automobile Association (AA) and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) about a possible raise in the fuel levy to cover the Gauteng freeway improvement bonds.

It must be made categorically clear that government has not made any pronouncements on this matter. We therefore appeal to all stakeholders to desist from rumour mongering that is intended to create anxiety among motorists.

“I have engaged with the AA and OUTA to discuss matters of mutual interest and I remain committed to constructive dialogue that assists in resolving challenges. There is no reason to be alarmist on possible pronouncements on the government’s decision on the funding of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement project. I urge everyone to await the formal pronouncements and not engage in speculation that offers no solution to our challenges,” said Minister Mbalula.

Source: Government of South Africa