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#PlumeStrong Cycling Challenge 2024 Surpasses Goal by Raising over €610.000 for Street Child to Develop Secondary Schools in Sierra Leone

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2 years ago

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PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 23, 2024 /CNW/ — Plume completed its fourth annual #PlumeStrong Cycling Challenge (#PSCC24) – a 5-stage 824 km route from Zurich, Switzerland to Venice, Italy that took place from September 2-6, 2024. The #PSCC is a fundraiser to benefit #PlumeStrong, Plume’s social impact initiative with a mission to empower communities worldwide through meaningful initiatives that promote health, education, equality, efficiency, sustainability, technological innovation, and security. #PlumeStrong envisions a world where more individuals, particularly children, have access to education, resources, and opportunities.

During the five-day ride through the iconic mountain passes of Switzerland and Italy, Plume employees and corporate partners were joined by #PlumeStrong Ambassadors Tadej Pogačar, a three-time Tour de France winner, Urška Žigart, a Slovenian professional racing cyclist, currently riding for the Liv AlUla Jayco WorldTeam, Scott Ogden, English Grand Prix motorcycle racer currently competing in the 2024 Moto3 World Championship for MLav Racing, and Marko Baloh, Guinness & WUCA World Record Holder and elite ultra-cyclist and coach. 

Together, #PSCC24 and its supporters raised over €610,000 surpassing the initiative’s original target of €550,000. Recently, #PlumeStrong and its charity partner Street Child announced that the money raised during the #PSCC24 will be used to benefit Street Child’s work in Sierra Leone. The initial goal was to develop 15 rural secondary schools, providing quality education to over 1,500 children annually, teacher training, and the establishment of a community agriculture project to help sustain the school. Due to the excess funds already raised, #PlumeStrong and Street Child are now expanding the project to develop an additional 5 schools bringing the total number to 20.

Fahri Diner

“I am so proud of what the #PlumeStrong team achieved, said Fahri Diner, Founder and CEO of Plume. “We set a goal for this year’s ride and once again exceeded it. The #PlumeStrong Cycling Challenge 2024 (#PSCC24) was indeed a serious ‘challenge’ and not just a social ride – everyone who participated should feel an incredible sense of accomplishment. And more importantly, it was a successful fundraiser to help Street Child to provide additional educational opportunities for children. As is cycling, this was a beautifully orchestrated team effort, and we are so grateful for the commitment of our people, sponsors, partners, support teams and everyone who donated to the #PSCC24. On behalf of all of us at Plume, a big THANK YOU to all.”

Lucinda Dannatt

“We are thrilled by the success of the #PlumeStrong Cycling Challenge 2024, which has exceeded the initial fundraising goal, said Lucinda Dannatt, Director, Policy & Development and Co-Founder at Street Child. “Thanks to the incredible dedication of #PlumeStrong and its supporters, Street Child can now develop an additional 5 secondary schools, bringing the total to 20 schools and ensuring that at least 2,000 children in Sierra Leone will have the opportunity to receive a quality education. A huge thank you to everyone who braved the 800 km of mountain passes or supported us through donations and sponsorships. Your commitment has made this remarkable achievement possible.”

Tadej Pogačar

“Participating in the #PlumeStrong challenge is a point of pride in my life, and I am thrilled to have ridden again with #PlumeStrong,” said Tadej Pogačar. “I recognize the importance of giving back to those in need and this cycling challenge is one of my favorite ways to do so. The money being raised today will impact those in Sierra Leone and beyond, and I’m honored to be part of this great effort.”

Urška Žigart

“It’s a privilege to be a part of this incredible community of individuals all focused on providing opportunities to communities around the world,” said Urška Žigart. “Becoming a #PlumeStrong Ambassador is a milestone for me, made sweeter by the fact that we’re building a bridge to the cycling world. I look forward to participating in these challenges for years to come.”

Watch the #PSCC24 recap video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2mPn2VA_nI 

Media queries:
Plume: corporatecomms@plume.com
Street Child: ben.weich@street-child.org 

About Plume
Plume is the creator of the world’s first SaaS experience platform for communications service providers (CSPs) and their subscribers, deployed in more than 60 million locations globally. As the only open and hardware-independent, cloud-controlled solution, Plume enables the rapid delivery of new services for smart homes, small businesses and beyond, at massive scale. On the front end, Plume delivers self-optimizing, adaptive WiFi, cybersecurity, access, parental controls and more. CSPs get robust data- and AI-driven back-end applications for unprecedented visibility, insights, support, operations and marketing. Plume leverages OpenSync®, an open-source framework that comes pre-integrated and supported on the leading silicon, CPE and platform SDKs.

Visit plume.com, plume.com/homepass, plume.com/workpass, plume.com/uprise, and opensync.io.

Follow Plume on LinkedIn and Instagram

© 2024 Plume Design, Inc. All rights reserved. Adaptive, Advanced loT Protection, Concierge, Flow, Harvest, Haystack, HomePass, OpenSync, Plume, Plume Adaptive WiFi, Plume IQ, Powered by Plume, Signal, SuperPod, WorkPass, Work From Here, WorldPass, and the Plume and OpenSync Logos, among others, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plume Design, Inc. See trademark guidelines.

About Street Child
Street Child is one of the world’s fastest-growing international children’s charities, established in 2008. Street Child works to ensure children are safe, in school and learning even, and especially, in low resource environments and emergencies. The charity works with an expanding network of local organisations and a focus on the power and purpose of inspirational local level organisations sits at the heart of all they do – and has done so since the first partnership in Sierra Leone in 2008.

Today Street Child works in over 25 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.  

Learn more

Follow Street Child on LinkedIn and X

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SOURCE Plume Design, Inc.

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ST Engineering iDirect and MBSat Partner to Build Next-Generation Sovereign Connectivity Services Across Oman and the Middle East

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3 hours ago

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October 25, 2026

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Intuition ground system selected to support MBSat’s planned 2027 service launch, enabling accelerated deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable service growth

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect today announced a strategic partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat), part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region. Intuition will provide a flexible, software-defined foundation to support sovereign connectivity services, enabling efficient service deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable network operations.

Intuition will deliver a turnkey ground segment solution that accelerates deployment, simplifies operations and gives MBSat the flexibility to scale services as demand grows. The software-defined platform enables dynamic resource management, service automation and seamless integration with existing and future operational systems. The solution also includes Ka-band gateway infrastructure, service provisioning and management capabilities, open API integration frameworks, training and full-lifecycle support. Together, these capabilities will help MBSat launch and operate services efficiently while adapting to evolving market requirements.

The network will leverage capacity from MB Sat-1, a sovereign MicroGEO satellite, with planned service launch in 2027, to support flexible, scalable connectivity services across the region.

The partnership reflects growing investment in sovereign communications infrastructure across the Middle East as operators seek greater control over service delivery, network expansion and long-term technology evolution.

“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammar Al Rawahi, General Manager, MBSat. “Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”

“We are providing MBSat with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer, ST Engineering iDirect. “This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”

About ST Engineering iDirect

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications, providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their networks. Through its portfolio of ground infrastructure, intelligent networking and advanced satellite communications solutions, the company supports operators, service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-engineering-idirect-and-mbsat-partner-to-build-next-generation-sovereign-connectivity-services-across-oman-and-the-middle-east-302918467.html

SOURCE ST Engineering iDirect

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ST Engineering iDirect and MBSat Partner to Build Next-Generation Sovereign Connectivity Services Across Oman and the Middle East

Published

3 hours ago

on

October 25, 2026

By

Intuition ground system selected to support MBSat’s planned 2027 service launch, enabling accelerated deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable service growth

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect today announced a strategic partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat), part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region. Intuition will provide a flexible, software-defined foundation to support sovereign connectivity services, enabling efficient service deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable network operations.

Intuition will deliver a turnkey ground segment solution that accelerates deployment, simplifies operations and gives MBSat the flexibility to scale services as demand grows. The software-defined platform enables dynamic resource management, service automation and seamless integration with existing and future operational systems. The solution also includes Ka-band gateway infrastructure, service provisioning and management capabilities, open API integration frameworks, training and full-lifecycle support. Together, these capabilities will help MBSat launch and operate services efficiently while adapting to evolving market requirements.

The network will leverage capacity from MB Sat-1, a sovereign MicroGEO satellite, with planned service launch in 2027, to support flexible, scalable connectivity services across the region.

The partnership reflects growing investment in sovereign communications infrastructure across the Middle East as operators seek greater control over service delivery, network expansion and long-term technology evolution.

“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammar Al Rawahi, General Manager, MBSat. “Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”

“We are providing MBSat with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer, ST Engineering iDirect. “This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”

About ST Engineering iDirect

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications, providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their networks. Through its portfolio of ground infrastructure, intelligent networking and advanced satellite communications solutions, the company supports operators, service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-engineering-idirect-and-mbsat-partner-to-build-next-generation-sovereign-connectivity-services-across-oman-and-the-middle-east-302918467.html

SOURCE ST Engineering iDirect

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Global Security & Technology Summit Unveils Month-Long Program of Activities Ahead of December Event

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10 hours ago

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October 24, 2026

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Organizing Committee of the Global Security & Technology Summit (GSTS) held an introductory session today at the Ministry of Interior’s headquarters in Riyadh, bringing together representatives from the government, private, and nonprofit sectors to introduce the program of activities leading up to the summit. The upcoming summit will be held in Riyadh under the patronage of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, under the supervision of HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Interior, and organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with Tuwaiq Academy.

During the session, the Organizing Committee presented the comprehensive GSTS program, comprising three key components: GSTS Month, running from November 1 to 30, 2026; the Global Security & Innovation Fair (SAIF), taking place from November 24 to 26, 2026; and the main Summit, scheduled for December 18 to 20, 2026, in Riyadh. Together, these events form an integrated program designed to advance security and technology innovation, strengthen national capabilities, and foster international cooperation.

GSTS Month will feature working groups, boot camps, training programs, knowledge-sharing sessions, and technical workshops across Saudi Arabia’s 13 administrative regions, delivered both in person and remotely in collaboration with specialized entities. The month-long program aims to develop national capabilities, identify emerging talent, enrich knowledge-sharing opportunities, and equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to develop innovative solutions to future security and technology challenges.

The main Summit will bring together global leaders, decision-makers, experts, and innovators to explore the future of security and technology, promote the integration of advanced technologies within the security sector, strengthen national capabilities, support innovation, and foster international cooperation, further positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for security and technology.

Showcasing the latest technological breakthroughs and security solutions, the summit will bring together government entities, private sector organizations, academic institutions, and research centers to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration across key fields, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), smart security solutions, emerging technologies, and crisis management. The program will also feature main sessions, specialized discussions, and interactive exhibitions. Registration is available at gsts.sa.

Advisor to HRH the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the GSTS Organizing Committee, Ahmed Altowayan, stated that the summit builds on Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish an advanced security and technology ecosystem focused on knowledge and innovation, keeping pace with rapid developments and future challenges.

Mr. Altowayan noted that the summit is a global platform for strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise, anticipating future developments in security and technology, and developing strategic partnerships and innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency and readiness of security systems.

Vice Chairman of the GSTS Organizing Committee, Eng. Abdulaziz Alhammadi, said that the summit will offer a range of integrated programs and activities focused on enhancing national skills, encouraging innovation, and supporting international cooperation.

He added that GSTS Month will help build national capabilities, discover talent, and develop skills, with SAIF providing a platform for innovators and researchers from around the world to showcase leading technological solutions, while the main Summit will bring together leaders and experts to discuss the future of security and technology and explore new strategic partnership opportunities.

SAIF will take place at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, bringing together innovators, researchers, technology talents, and industry experts from around the world to showcase promising innovations and projects across 14 fields of technology and innovation. The fair will provide opportunities to engage with project owners, including students, graduates, and entrepreneurs, and explore the different stages of innovation development through interactive zones, panel discussions on emerging security and innovation trends, and knowledge-sharing workshops led by specialists. Visitor registration is open to participants from within and outside the Kingdom through saifair.sa.

The introductory session also featured contributions from representatives of government, private, and nonprofit sector entities, alongside members of the media. Discussions focused on developing national capabilities in security and technology, strengthening students’ technical expertise, translating scientific research into practical solutions, and supporting Saudi companies in developing security and technology solutions and advancing digital transformation.

Organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with Tuwaiq Academy, GSTS is produced by Tahaluf, with the Ministry of Education serving as Strategic Scientific Partner, Tahakom as Founding Partner, and Elm as Principal Partner.

Registration for participants from within and outside the Kingdom is available at gsts.sa.

Click here to view the media kit. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-security–technology-summit-unveils-month-long-program-of-activities-ahead-of-december-event-302918695.html

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