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West Australian
5 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Nexus Airlines moves to suspend Kimberley flight route from September 2025
In another blow to air services in the Kimberley, Nexus Airlines has moved to shut down its flights between Broome, Kununurra and Darwin by the end of August. The final flight from Broome to Darwin via Kununurra will depart on the morning of September 1, with Nexus Airlines to give out full refunds to all passengers booked to travel after that flight. Nexus Airlines managing director Michael McConachy cited increased competition from Airnorth, a Northern Territory‑based regional carrier owned by Bristow Helicopters Australia and a subsidiary of the US‑based Bristow Group, for the closure of the route. 'The additional capacity they introduced, and aggressive pricing have made it financially unsustainable to continue on this route and, despite Nexus taking a significant share of the market, ultimately they have deeper pockets and were prepared to continue to fly with unused capacity,' he said. 'It's a difficult business decision, especially as someone who is deeply passionate about tourism and regional growth in the Kimberley, but I remain hopeful we'll return to this route in the near future.' Mr McConachy said it was a 'disappointing' decision to make. 'I'm proud of what we've achieved. Nexus Airlines was created to improve air connectivity across regional WA,' he said. 'Having now lived in the Kimberley for nearly two decades, I witnessed firsthand how poor reliability and high fares contributed to market failure on this route, which was a key motivation in bringing Nexus Airlines to the Kimberley.' Other Nexus routes including between Perth and Geraldton, and between Geraldton, Karratha, Port Hedland and Broome continue to perform well and will remain unaffected by this network change, according to Nexus. Mr McConachy backed recent calls from the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley for the State Government to regulate the sector in the region. 'Regulation through a competitive tender process, where one airline is granted exclusive access to a route, can be a vital tool in protecting essential air services,' he said. 'In regions where passenger volumes are too low to support multiple operators, this approach helps ensure communities continue to benefit from dependable, affordable air travel. It's about safeguarding access to tourism, education, health care and local business. 'My hope is that the Kimberley route will be fully regulated. This would allow fares, frequency and service levels to be set and monitored by the State Government, delivering the best outcome for the towns and regions along the route.' It comes after Qantas decided to shutter Jetstar Asia in June — taking Broome's short-lived Singapore flight connection with it, which was the first international flight route for Broome International Airport in years. With the route lasting less than a year before being axed, Broome International Airport chief executive Craig Shaw described the move as 'disappointing' and a blow to the region's aspirations of boosting international tourism and business at the time.
Arabian Post
02-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
PoliCloud Secures €7.5 Million to Fuel European Sovereign Cloud Roll‑out
PoliCloud has closed a €7.5 million seed funding round led by Global Ventures, with participation from MI8, OneRagtime, Inria and others, to accelerate its expansion of sovereign, decentralised cloud infrastructure aimed at European governments, enterprises and SMEs. The Cannes‑based firm will deploy the capital to bolster its operational team, scale micro‑data centre deployment across Europe and target public sector clients that need secure, locally governed cloud services. Founded in February 2025 by serial fintech entrepreneur David Gurlé, PoliCloud delivers containerised micro‑data centres housing proprietary hardware integrated with Hivenet's distributed storage and computing software. Early traction includes four sold units and projected revenues in excess of €6 million by the end of 2025. ADVERTISEMENT The firm's micro‑data centres—equipped with up to 104 GPUs per unit and expected to scale beyond 1,000 GPUs by year‑end—are designed for high‑performance computing, AI processing and encrypted data storage, offering reduced dependency on US‑based cloud giants and enhanced compliance with European data sovereignty standards. 'PoliCloud is meeting a critical market demand for sovereign cloud infrastructure that is not only secure and abundant but also eco‑responsible,' Gurlé stated, underscoring an ambition to deliver affordable, decentralised compute infrastructure across the continent. Global Ventures Senior Partner Simon Sharp explained the investment thesis, emphasising a need for visionary entrepreneurs offering solutions with clear market demand and global potential. The firm previously backed Hivenet in 2022 and views PoliCloud as a strategic addition to its portfolio. OneRagtime CEO Stéphanie Hospital and Mi8 Managing Director Guillaume Dhamelincourt echoed the sentiment, citing the increasing demand for affordable, secure and sustainable computing power in Europe. Inria's participation aligned with its strategic mission to support decentralised computing as a way to bolster France's digital autonomy. Industry analysts note that the cloud infrastructure sector in Europe has drawn significant venture investment, particularly in sovereign and AI-ready platforms. PoliCloud stands out for combining hardware innovation, distributed software architecture and environmental responsibility—promising 75% lower CO₂ emissions and zero‑water waste per unit. PoliCloud's edge compute strategy is being viewed as a potential game‑changer in the context of accelerating AI adoption. It offers municipalities, research institutions and regulated industries the flexibility to deploy GPU‑rich, GDPR‑compliant infrastructure locally, rather than relying on centralised hyperscalers. Operating from Cannes, the company has so far sold four units within three months of its February launch at the World AI Cannes Festival. Hardware specifics remain under wraps, though insiders suggest each container may host more than 100 GPUs, with a roadmap targeting up to 10,000 GPUs by the end of 2026. The €7.5 million lifeline will be used to recruit additional talent, fund technical development, scale production of micro‑data centres and initiate roll‑out across multiple European markets.
Arabian Post
16-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Trump Mobile debuts $499 gold smartphone and US‑centred service
The Trump Organisation has unveiled Trump Mobile, featuring a $499 gold-hued T1 smartphone and a monthly '47 Plan' priced at $47.45. Designed to target conservative consumers disenchanted with mainstream providers, the offering promises an American‑branded telecommunications package with US‑based customer support and domestically produced handsets. Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump introduced the venture on 16 June 2025 at Trump Tower, emphasising the use of US‑made phones and support centres located in St Louis and elsewhere in the United States. The 47 Plan includes unlimited calls, texts and data, telemedicine access, roadside assistance, and free international texting or calls to over 100 countries—features positioned as value-adds for patriotic users. Although marketed under the Trump brand, the company clarified it does not manufacture the T1 device nor operate the network; T1 Mobile LLC holds the trademark licence and resells service through Liberty Mobile, leveraging T‑Mobile's nationwide 5G infrastructure. Planned availability stretches to September for the phone, with service expected shortly thereafter. ADVERTISEMENT Analysts from PP Foresight and Zacks Investment Management flagged uncertainties around Trump Mobile's business model. They cited strategic opacity regarding the roles of telecom partners and the licensed operators, and pointed to the challenge of scaling in a market dominated by Apple, Samsung, Verizon, AT&T and T‑Mobile, which jointly hold nearly 95 % of US wireless subscribers. TMT analyst Paolo Pescatore remarked, 'the devil is in the detail', urging scrutiny of contractual arrangements. Bloomberg and Washington Post reports noted that the smartphone will boast a 6.78‑inch 120 Hz OLED display, 12 GB of RAM, 256 GB expandable storage, and a 5000 mAh battery under Android 15, though Bloomberg also flagged inconsistencies in disclosed specs. The gold-coloured design features a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a 50 MP primary camera, though the source and location of manufacture remain unspecified—a significant point given domestic production costs and supply‑chain complexity. Trump Mobile builds on the Trump family's expanding ideological commerce. It joins ventures like Truth Social, crypto ETFs, and previously launched hospitality efforts. Trademark filings made by DTTM Operations ahead of the launch cover rights to 'Trump' and 'T1' for telecom-related goods and services, signalling an intent to widen its footprint into accessories and retail outlets. Supporters view the launch as aligned with nationalist rhetoric, emphasising American manufacturing and values. Eric Trump framed it as 'affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality'. Critics, however, warn of potential conflicts of interest given the president's regulatory influence and the layering of Trump enterprises atop federal agencies such as the FCC. A comparison in the marketplace reveals existing ideologically‑oriented offerings such as Patriot Mobile, which operates under AT&T, T‑Mobile and Verizon networks and supports conservative causes. However, Patriot Mobile holds fewer than 100,000 subscribers, illustrating the scale challenge ahead for Trump Mobile. The telecom sector's capital intensity and entrenched scale present barriers to market entry. Founded on 16 June 2025, Trump Mobile must secure licensing agreements, build subscriber base, and establish brand credibility outside the Trump‑aligned customer segment.
