Latest news with #Speedtest
Arabian Business
a day ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
UAE tops 2025 global digital rankings with world's fastest mobile internet and AI leadership
The UAE has reinforced its position as a global leader in digital transformation, achieving top rankings in multiple international indices and setting new benchmarks for technology-driven growth. According to the United Nations E-Government Survey 2024, the UAE ranked first globally in the Telecommunications Infrastructure Index with a perfect score of 100 percent, reflecting the extensive reach and efficiency of its digital networks. In mobile internet performance, the UAE maintained its number one global ranking in the Speedtest Global Index from July 2024 to June 2025, with an average download speed of 546.14 Mbps in June — far ahead of its closest competitors. UAE digital services In 2024, UAE government entities completed 173.7m digital transactions, serving more than 57m beneficiaries across 1,419 digital services, achieving a 91 per cent satisfaction rate. The UAE's smart city credentials also climbed to global prominence in the IMD Smart City Index 2025, with Dubai ranked fourth worldwide and Abu Dhabi fifth, reflecting significant advances in infrastructure, digital services, and quality of life. The country topped the Middle East in the Government AI Readiness Index 2024, issued by Oxford Insights, measuring government efficiency, technology sector growth, and infrastructure readiness. According to the Interregional Centre for Strategic Analysis in Abu Dhabi, the UAE is on track to lead the region in AI adoption, powered by targeted investments in research, skills, and innovation. Industry experts say the UAE has moved beyond simply adopting technology to creating human-centred digital experiences. Rasha Abdo of Infobip praised the Dubai Government's 360 Services policy, which integrates proactive, people-first service delivery. Amjad Al Sabbagh of Sprinklr added that the United Arab Emirates' approach aligns with its goal to double the digital economy's GDP contribution by 2030, with AI projected to add 13.6 per cent to GDP (around $100bn) — a key driver of economic diversification and sustainable growth. With unmatched infrastructure, world-leading internet speeds, and a people-first innovation strategy, the United Arab Emirates is positioning itself not just as a regional technology hub, but as a global model for digital excellence and AI readiness.
News18
30-07-2025
- News18
Russia bans Ooklas Speedtest fearing internet disruption
Agency: Moscow, Jul 30 (PTI) Amid warnings of a drop in the speed of mobile internet services, Russia has blocked US-based internet speed-measuring tool Speedtest, citing potential threats to its network, according to local media reports. According to Roskomnadzor (RKN), Russia's communications watchdog, the Speedtest by Ookla poses a threat to the internet in Russia because it allows the analysis of the connection speed and latency. Experts claim this data is crucial for remotely piloted attacker drones. Interfax reported that Ookla was fined in 2022 and 2023 for failing to localise data of Russian users of the service. Meanwhile, RKN has warned users about the drop in the speed of mobile internet and advised them to use WiFi and cable-linked internet services as a precautionary measure amid frequent drone attacks by Ukraine. Even in Moscow, there are blank spots in GPS coverage due to reduced internet speed. Consequently, the taxi arrives before one sees it coming on the map. PTI VS AMJ AMJ view comments First Published: July 31, 2025, 03:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Russia Today
30-07-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Russia blocks Speedtest
Russia's media and communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has blocked the internet performance measurement tool Speedtest, run by US-based company Ookla, citing threats to national digital infrastructure. In a statement on Wednesday, the agency said access to the service was restricted 'due to identified threats to the security of the public communication network and the Russian segment of the internet.' Speedtest, one of the most popular internet speed-testing platforms globally, boasts millions of daily users. Roskomnadzor has recommended Russian users switch to a homegrown alternative called ProSet, developed as part of the country's broader push toward digital sovereignty. Russian authorities first signaled a potential ban on Speedtest in October 2024. At the time, the regulator warned the service could be blocked if it was found to compromise the stability, integrity, or safety of domestic networks. The Russian Izvestia newspaper cited a report by industry think tank the International Communications Academy (ICA) that Ookla could be sharing data gathered through testing Russia's digital infrastructure with US intelligence agencies, thus increasing the risk of cyberattacks. The ICA's proposal to ban the service was supported by both the State Duma and the Federal Security Service, the paper noted. The concerns have been echoed by the Public Communications Network Monitoring and Management Center, an entity subordinate to Roskomnadzor. 'The data collected by the US service may be used to plan, organize, conduct, and evaluate the effectiveness of attacks on Russian telecommunications networks, as well as on entities connected to them,' the center stated on Wednesday, as quoted by Vedomosti. The Russian authorities have already fined Ookla twice for violating data localization laws. In July 2022, the Seattle-based company was ordered to pay 1 million rubles (roughly $12,000) for failing to store Russian users' personal data on servers located within the country. A repeat violation led to a second, larger fine of 6 million rubles (about $64,500) in October 2023. The Speedtest ban follows a major cyberattack on Russian airline Aeroflot earlier this week, which disrupted airport operations and led to widespread flight delays. Pro-Ukrainian hacker groups have claimed responsibility for the incident, and a criminal case has been launched.
CNA
30-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
Russia blocks Ookla's online Speedtest service due to internet security threats
Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor said on Wednesday it had blocked the internet performance tool Speedtest, run by U.S. company Ookla, due to what it described as threats to Russia's internet security. Foreign tech companies, including the likes of Alphabet, Meta and Apple, have been under pressure in Russia for several years over the content they distribute and where they store their data. Roskomnadzor said access to Speedtest had been restricted in accordance with a 2020 decree "due to identified threats to the security of public communications network operation and the Russian segment of the internet". Ookla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "Roskomnadzor recommends using trusted Russian services," Roskomnadzor said, naming an application developed in Russia called ProSet, or ProNet in English, that performs similar online speed and signal strength tests. Russia has long sought to establish what it calls digital sovereignty by promoting home-grown services, a push that became more urgent as some Western companies pulled out of the Russian market following Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has blocked social networks like Meta's Instagram and Facebook, sought to slow down the speed of YouTube and has told messaging app WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market, with a new state-controlled messaging app, MAX, preparing to fill the gap. In a report published on Wednesday, Human Rights Watch said Russia's government was increasing its technological capacities and control over the country's internet infrastructure, allowing for more widespread blocking and throttling of unwanted websites and censorship circumvention tools. "For years, Russian authorities have been meticulously expanding their legal and technological tools to carve out Russia's section of the internet into a tightly controlled and isolated forum," said Anastasiia Kruope, assistant Europe and Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. Lawmakers have approved a new law that tightens censorship and could have sweeping ramifications for digital privacy, with Russians facing fines if they search online for content Moscow considers "extremist". Human Rights Watch noted that Russians face higher risks of having their personal data passed on to law enforcement.
Reuters
30-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Russia blocks Ookla's online Speedtest service due to internet security threats
July 30 (Reuters) - Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor said on Wednesday it had blocked the internet performance tool Speedtest, run by U.S. company Ookla, due to what it described as threats to Russia's internet security. Foreign tech companies, including the likes of Alphabet (GOOGL.O), opens new tab, Meta (META.O), opens new tab and Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab, have been under pressure in Russia for several years over the content they distribute and where they store their data. Roskomnadzor said access to Speedtest had been restricted in accordance with a 2020 decree "due to identified threats to the security of public communications network operation and the Russian segment of the internet". Ookla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "Roskomnadzor recommends using trusted Russian services," Roskomnadzor said, naming an application developed in Russia called ProSet, or ProNet in English, that performs similar online speed and signal strength tests. Russia has long sought to establish what it calls digital sovereignty by promoting home-grown services, a push that became more urgent as some Western companies pulled out of the Russian market following Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has blocked social networks like Meta's Instagram and Facebook, sought to slow down the speed of YouTube and has told messaging app WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market, with a new state-controlled messaging app, MAX, preparing to fill the gap. In a report published on Wednesday, Human Rights Watch said Russia's government was increasing its technological capacities and control over the country's internet infrastructure, allowing for more widespread blocking and throttling of unwanted websites and censorship circumvention tools. "For years, Russian authorities have been meticulously expanding their legal and technological tools to carve out Russia's section of the internet into a tightly controlled and isolated forum," said Anastasiia Kruope, assistant Europe and Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. Lawmakers have approved a new law that tightens censorship and could have sweeping ramifications for digital privacy, with Russians facing fines if they search online for content Moscow considers "extremist". Human Rights Watch noted that Russians face higher risks of having their personal data passed on to law enforcement. Russia's digital development ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Human Rights Watch report.
