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Canada is expanding high-speed Internet access in Saskatchewan

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Federal investment of $160 million will connect 13,700 homes to high-speed Internet and provide mobile connectivity along 500 km of roads

LA RONGE, SK, June 3, 2024 /CNW/ – Fairness for every generation means making sure everyone in Canada has access to reliable and affordable high-speed Internet, no matter where they live. That is why the Government of Canada is bringing high-speed Internet access and mobile connectivity to underserved communities—namely Indigenous communities—and roads in Saskatchewan.

Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, announced a total of up to $160 million in federal funding for projects to bring high-speed Internet access to communities across Saskatchewan and provide mobile connectivity along roads in the province.

Up to $105 million of this funding is being allocated to SaskTel for projects that will benefit up to 5,700 households in communities across West Central and Northern Saskatchewan, the majority of which are Indigenous. A list of communities to be connected by these projects, along with full project details, will be released at a later date. In addition, through its Capital Plan, SaskTel will upgrade the speed available in 19 more communities across the province to 50/10 megabits per second (Mbps).

The Minister also announced full details of seven federally funded projects to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 8,000 households, of which 3,200 are Indigenous, and two projects that will provide mobile service along 500 kilometres of roadway within Indigenous communities and along highways. The government will contribute $55 million in total for these projects. The funding recipients are Access Communications Co-operative Ltd., Advanced Interactive Canada Inc., BH Telecom Corp., Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation in partnership with Sequorum Inc., Meadow Lake Tribal Council, and SaskTel.

The Government of Canada’s funding is provided through the Universal Broadband Fund, a program designed to ensure that Canadians in rural, remote and Indigenous communities have access to reliable high-speed Internet and mobile connectivity.

Everyone in Canada will have access to high-speed Internet by 2030, and 98% of Canadians will be connected by 2026. Canada is on track to meet its 2026 connectivity targets. These projects will build toward that goal, and the government will continue to invest in infrastructure that creates new opportunities in communities and makes sure they can benefit from all of Canada’s potential.

Quotes 

“High-speed Internet is no longer a luxury. The federal funding committed today will bring reliable high-speed Internet to up to 13,700 underserved homes in communities across Saskatchewan and provide mobile connectivity along 500 km of roads. It is only fair that communities large and small have a reliable connection so they can grow their potential in this digital world.”
– The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

“Access to reliable high-speed Internet service empowers people in urban, rural and northern communities by offering vital connections to education, health care, economic opportunities, and family and friends. The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to ensuring that every corner of our province has access to the tools and technologies needed to thrive in the digital age. I thank the Government of Canada for this funding, which will accelerate and enhance the more than $1 billion in investments that SaskTel is continuing to make to connect more than 225 communities and 85% of Saskatchewan homes to lightning-fast fibre Internet service.”
Jim Lemaigre, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Athabasca, on behalf of the Honourable Dustin Duncan, Minister Responsible for SaskTel

Quick facts

Canada’s Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload.The Universal Broadband Fund is a $3.225 billion investment by the Government of Canada designed to help provide high-speed Internet access to 98% of Canadians by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% access by 2030.Today, 93.5% of Canadian households have access to high-speed Internet, compared to just 79% in 2014.Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested $88 million in connectivity projects in Saskatchewan.

Associated links

Universal Broadband FundHigh-Speed Access for All: Canada’s Connectivity StrategyHigh-Speed Internet Access DashboardNational Broadband Internet Service Availability MapHigh-speed Internet for all CanadiansRural economic development

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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Sidus Space Announces Closing of Offering

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sidus Space, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIDU) (“Sidus” or the “Company”), an innovative space and defense technology company, today announced the closing of its previously announced best-efforts offering of 13,453,700 shares of its Class A common stock (or pre-funded warrants (“Pre-funded Warrants”) in lieu thereof). Each share of Class A common stock (or Pre-funded Warrant) was sold at an offering price of $4.35 per share (inclusive of the Pre-funded Warrant exercise price) for gross proceeds of approximately $58.5 million, before deducting the placement agent’s fees and offering expenses. All of the shares of Class A common stock and Pre-funded Warrants were offered by the Company.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes.

ThinkEquity acted as sole placement agent for the offering.

The securities were offered and sold pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-292839), including a base prospectus, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 20, 2026, and declared effective on February 4, 2026. The offering was made by means of a written prospectus. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus related to the offering have been filed with the SEC and made available on the SEC’s website. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may also be obtained, when available, from the offices of ThinkEquity, 17 State Street, 41st Floor, New York, New York 10004.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Sidus Space

Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU) is an innovative space and defense technology company offering flexible, cost-effective solutions, including satellite manufacturing and technology integration, AI-driven space-based data solutions, mission planning and management operations, AI/ML products and services, and space and defense hardware manufacturing. With its mission of Space Access Reimagined®, Sidus Space is committed to rapid innovation, adaptable and cost-effective solutions, and the optimization of space systems and data collection performance. With demonstrated space heritage, including manufacturing and operating its own satellite and sensor system, LizzieSat®, Sidus Space serves government, defense, intelligence, and commercial companies around the globe. Strategically headquartered on Florida’s Space Coast, Sidus Space operates a 35,000-square-foot space manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing facility and provides easy access to nearby launch facilities. For more information, visit: sidusspace.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected trading commencement and closing dates. The words ‘anticipate,’ ‘believe,’ ‘continue,’ ‘could,’ ‘estimate,’ ‘expect,’ ‘intend,’ ‘may,’ ‘plan,’ ‘potential,’ ‘predict,’ ‘project,’ ‘should,’ ‘target,’ ‘will,’ ‘would’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties related to market conditions and other factors described more fully in the section entitled ‘Risk Factors’ in Sidus Space’s prospectus supplement and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Sidus Space, Inc. specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Investor Relations
Investor-Relations@sidusspace.com

Media
press@sidusspace.com

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SOURCE Sidus Space, Inc.

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Ezee Fiber Connects First Customers in Santa Fe, Accelerates New Mexico Expansion

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HOUSTON, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ezee Fiber, a fast-growing fiber internet company delivering 100% fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service, announced it has connected its first customers in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This milestone marks the company’s first major step in building its Santa Fe network and expanding multi-gigabit, symmetrical fiber service across the state.

Installations are now underway, giving residents access to Ezee Fiber’s high-performance network, which features symmetrical multi-gig speeds, no data caps, no hidden fees and transparent lifetime pricing. The company also emphasizes locally staffed customer support and a reliable, high-quality experience that sets it apart from legacy providers.

“We’re excited to bring our modern, 100% fiber network to homes the state capital,” said Carlos Rosas, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Southwest Region at Ezee Fiber. “Communities deserve more than basic connectivity. We are focused on delivering ultra-fast speeds, reliability and long-term infrastructure that supports how people live and work today.”

Ezee Fiber began expanding in New Mexico in 2024 and continues to scale rapidly. In addition to Santa Fe, the company is building fiber infrastructure in Albuquerque and surrounding communities, with service activating on a rolling basis as construction is completed.

Residents can expect construction activity to move efficiently through neighborhoods. Ezee Fiber will provide advance notice before work begins and will restore all areas in line with municipal requirements and industry best practices.

Residents can check availability and learn more at ezeefiber.com.

About Ezee Fiber

Ezee Fiber is a rapidly growing fiber internet company delivering premium multi-gig service to residential, business, and government customers over a 100% fiber-optic network—at exceptional value.

The company’s carrier-grade infrastructure spans Texas, New Mexico, Illinois, Oregon, Michigan and Washington, supported by local teams who live and work in the communities they serve. Ezee Fiber’s industry-leading speeds, award-winning customer service, and transparent pricing model set the company apart. Learn more at www.ezeefiber.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ezee-fiber-connects-first-customers-in-santa-fe-accelerates-new-mexico-expansion-302749195.html

SOURCE Ezee Fiber

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CFA Institute calls for functional, proportionate AI oversight to safeguard UK retail investors and market integrity

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LONDON, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, has published its response to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Review into the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on retail financial services (the “Mills Review”). CFA Institute welcomes the FCA’s technology-neutral approach, while urging greater operational clarity to ensure responsible AI deployment.

In its submission, CFA Institute supports anchoring AI oversight within the UK’s existing principles-based framework, including the Consumer Duty and the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR), rather than introducing a standalone AI rulebook. However, it emphasizes that supervisory expectations must be clearer and more practical as AI systems move from assistive tools to advisory functions and, ultimately, autonomous agents.

CFA Institute argues that regulation should follow what AI systems do for consumers, not how they are labelled or constructed. AI-enabled retail interfaces may generate “advice-like” outcomes, such as personalized product steering or portfolio construction guidance, without formally crossing regulatory thresholds. A substance-over-form approach is therefore essential to prevent regulatory arbitrage and ensure consistent consumer protection.

While the Consumer Duty provides a robust foundation, CFA Institute calls for AI-specific articulation of how its four outcomes apply where decision-making is increasingly delegated to automated systems. In particular, the response highlights a risk of automation bias, which may reduce effective consumer outcomes, especially among vulnerable customers.

Firms should be expected to test, monitor and evidence outcomes based on how consumers actually use AI systems in practice, not solely on how they are intended to function.

The submission also identifies a potential governance gap where firms report formal accountability for AI systems yet lack deep operational understanding of complex or third-party models. CFA Institute recommends clearer expectations around what “reasonable steps” and “meaningful oversight” mean under SM&CR and SYSC when AI is deployed in material retail use cases.

It further calls for:

A proportionate, tiered governance framework aligned to the assistive–advisory–autonomous spectrumClear allocation of end-to-end accountability for consumer outcomesReinforced oversight of third-party AI dependencies and operational resilience risks.

Although retail-focused, the response underscores broader market structure implications, including model concentration, correlated behavior, and third-party dependencies that could amplify volatility in stressed conditions. CFA Institute encourages close coordination between the FCA and the Bank of England, as well as continued alignment with IOSCO and the Financial Stability Board, to reduce fragmentation and support the UK’s global competitiveness.

Finally, CFA Institute stresses that responsible AI adoption depends on developing “hybrid” talent, professionals who combine technological fluency with fiduciary judgement and market expertise. Strengthening professional standards and supervisory capability should form part of the UK’s long-term AI competitiveness strategy.

Olivier Fines, CFA, Head of Advocacy and Capital Markets Policy at CFA Institute, said: “Artificial intelligence has the potential to expand access, improve efficiency and strengthen retail financial services, but only if trust and accountability remain firmly at the center.

“The UK’s principles-based framework is advantageous. The priority now is operational clarity: clear guidance on how the Consumer Duty and SM&CR apply when decision-making is increasingly delegated to AI systems.

“Regulation should follow function, not technological form. Where AI systems effectively shape or execute consumer decisions, protections must apply in substance, not just in label.

“We encourage the FCA to provide practical supervisory guidance by the end of 2026 and to continue close dialogue with industry and international standard-setters. With proportionate safeguards, meaningful oversight and investment in hybrid professional skills, the UK can play a leading role in responsible AI-enabled finance while preserving market integrity and public trust.”

About CFA Institute

As the global association of investment professionals, CFA Institute sets the standards for professional excellence and credentials. We champion ethical behavior in investment markets and serve as the leading source of learning and research for the investment industry. We believe in fostering an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. With more than 200,000 charterholders worldwide across more than 160 markets, CFA Institute has 9 offices and 157 local societies. Find us at https://www.cfainstitute.org/ or follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe on YouTube.

 

 

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cfa-institute-calls-for-functional-proportionate-ai-oversight-to-safeguard-uk-retail-investors-and-market-integrity-302748558.html

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