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Governments of Canada and Quebec expand high-speed Internet access in Quebec

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Combined investment of over $24,000 connected 16 rural homes to high-speed Internet

OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 8, 2024 /CNW/ – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Fairness for every generation means making sure everyone has access to reliable and affordable high-speed Internet, no matter where they live. That is why the governments of Canada and Quebec have set themselves the goal of bringing high-speed Internet access to underserved communities in Quebec.

Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, announced that thanks to $24,104 in combined federal and provincial funding for Développement Innovations Haut-Richelieu, 16 households in the Saint-Sébastien community of Quebec’s Haut-Richelieu region now have access to high-speed Internet.

The Government of Canada’s contribution was made under the Universal Broadband Fund, a program designed to ensure that Canadians in rural, remote and Indigenous communities have access to high-speed Internet. The provincial funding comes from the Quebec broadband program.

By 2026, 98% of Canadians will have access to high-speed Internet, and by 2030, 100% will have access. Canada is on track to meet its connectivity targets. This project has advanced this 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.

Since September 2023, 100% of homes in Quebec have had access to high-speed Internet, whether through cable or satellite solutions. With the launch of Operation High Speed in 2021, the Government of Quebec set itself the ambitious goal of making high-speed Internet available to all homes in Quebec. Thus far, more than 50,000 km of optical fibre has been deployed, offering high-speed Internet access to over 300,000 more homes.

Quotes

“High-speed Internet is no longer considered just a luxury. That’s why our government made a historic commitment to connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026, and 100% by 2030. All communities, large and small, need a reliable connection to 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

“Having access to quality information and to entertaining content by and for Canadians is important, so it’s essential to put in place the necessary infrastructure to guarantee this access. I want to recognize the work of Minister Hutchings, who is striving to bring high-speed Internet to the municipalities of Brome-Missisquoi, with the support of the Universal Broadband Fund. Thanks to her efforts, Canadians from coast to coast to coast will one day be able to stay in contact with their loved ones, follow news live and listen to their favourite podcasts, no matter where they are in the country.”
– The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage

“Access to high-speed Internet is a critical element of economic and social development, especially in the regions, like in the Iberville area, where it helps alleviate isolation, improve education and create new job opportunities. I am proud of what we have accomplished thus far for the future of our communities.”
– Audrey Bogemans, Member for Iberville and Member of the National Assembly of Quebec

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, 94.8% of Canadian households have access to high-speed Internet, compared to just 79% in 2014.In Quebec, 100% of households have access to high-speed Internet.Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested more than $770 million in connectivity projects in Quebec.Over 4,000 Indigenous households in Quebec have gained access to high-speed Internet thanks to projects funded by the Universal Broadband Fund.

Associated links

Rural economic developmentHigh-Speed Internet Access DashboardUniversal Broadband FundBackgrounder: Universal Broadband Fund and Telesat low Earth orbit capacity agreementHigh-Speed Access for All: Canada’s Connectivity StrategyCanada Infrastructure Bank: BroadbandNational Broadband Internet Service Availability MapOperation High Speed (in French only)Interactive high-speed Internet map (in French only)

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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Melody Party Offers Over 20,000 Songs and Adds More Than a Thousand New Tracks Monthly, Enhancing Its Online Karaoke Experience

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40 minutes ago

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October 27, 2026

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SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Melody Party is a music social app featuring a variety of activities, including Mic Grab, Artist Mafia, and Singing Battle. Through its online karaoke feature, SING A SONG, the app brings the traditional karaoke experience online, removing time and location constraints and offering a music experience that combines real-time singing with social interaction.

SING A SONG features an extensive library of more than 20,000 songs, with over a thousand new songs added every month. Its diverse selection includes popular K-pop tracks, classic Korean songs, and karaoke favorites. The feature offers a free-use model, allowing users to start singing their chosen songs without paying a separate fee. This helps reduce the time and cost associated with visiting traditional coin-operated karaoke venues, making it easier to enjoy singing as part of everyday life.

In terms of functionality, SING A SONG supports pitch adjustment and independent volume controls for vocals and accompaniment, allowing users to customize their singing experience according to their preferences. Users can also create online karaoke rooms, invite friends to sing together in real time, and enjoy voice chat and social interaction.

By continuously expanding its song library and offering diverse music-based interactive experiences, Melody Party continues to strengthen its music ecosystem. Through SING A SONG, the platform aims to create an accessible, highly interactive online music social space.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/melody-party-offers-over-20-000-songs-and-adds-more-than-a-thousand-new-tracks-monthly-enhancing-its-online-karaoke-experience-302920097.html

SOURCE Melody Party

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Drawing new strength from 20-year legacy, IAACA calls on global counterparts to join annual conference to fortify integrity

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October 27, 2026

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MARRAKECH, Morocco, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), an independent and non-political anti-corruption organisation with over 190 member anti-corruption authorities (ACAs) worldwide, will co-host IAACA Annual Conference 2026 in Marrakech, Morocco next month together with the Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong, China (ICAC) and the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and Fight Against Corruption of Morocco (INPPLC) to chart a path for the global graft fight and explore cutting-edge approaches to tackle emerging corruption challenges.

Themed “Building on 20 Years of Legacy: Drawing Strength from the Past, Guarding Global Integrity for the Future”, the international event will not only mark the 20th anniversary of the IAACA, but also provide a dynamic forum for IAACA members to exchange insights and enhance co-operation.

Calling on international counterparts to participate in the conference scheduled for November 25, IAACA President Mr Woo Ying-ming, who also serves as ICAC Commissioner, said that “As the IAACA marks its 20th anniversary, the conference will bring together global anti-corruption community at a pivotal moment for collective action. I anticipate that the valuable insights and new approaches generated through the international synergy will chart a resilient strategic path for us to navigate integrity risks and draw strength from our shared legacy to guard global integrity for generations to come.”

During the conference, renowned international experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Basel Institute on Governance, the International Anti-Corruption Academy, and global anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies and institutions will shed light on harnessing artificial intelligence in the fight against corruption, safeguarding integrity within global climate and biodiversity frameworks and analysing global corruption measurement and systemic effectiveness.

Following the conference, the ICAC, the INPPLC, the IAACA and the UNODC will co-organise a training seminar on leveraging AI in combating corruption.

While the ICAC and INPPLC will share how AI and new technology can reshape the future of anti-graft enforcement and corruption prevention, the UNODC will provide a global perspective on using AI models in financial crime investigations and addressing the operational relevance, legal robustness and adaptability across jurisdictions.

For details of the conference and training, please visit:
https://www.icac.org.hk/icac/iaaca-morocco-2026/index.html

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SOURCE International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA)

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Viettel moves 100 million subscribers to home-grown cloud-native charging in three months – with zero downtime

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October 27, 2026

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HANOI, Vietnam, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Viettel High Technology Industries Corporation (Viettel High Tech), part of Viettel Group, has migrated more than 100 million subscribers and some 5,000 tariff plans at Viettel, Vietnam’s largest mobile operator, to vOCS 4.0, its in-house cloud-native charging system. The three-month cutover ran on a live national network with no service disruption.

Replacing a charging system is one of the riskiest projects an operator can undertake, which is why many stick with legacy platforms. Viettel High Tech reduced the risk through real-time data synchronization, parallel running and a phased cutover, with instant rollback at every stage.

The project won the Telecom Review Excellence Awards 2026 prize for Best Technology Deployment in Asia, a first for a Vietnamese company.

What it means for operators:

Scale: more than 300,000 transactions per second at latency below 5 milliseconds, across 2G–5G and fixed services on one platformLower cost: up to 50% less hardware investment than the previous generation, by sharing infrastructure with the networkAgility: new tariff plans in hours instead of days, new features three times faster and deployments about 30% fasterResilience: two active data centers about 2,000 km apart and automatic recovery in under two minutes

Viettel High Tech developed every core layer in-house, from a telecom-grade cloud-native platform and NFV-MANO orchestration to real-time charging, subscriber and balance management.

“Passing rigorous tests of real-time self-diagnosis and self-recovery is what allows an operator to keep its promise of 24/7 service to customers,” said Luu Manh Ha, CEO of Viettel Networks, which operates the system on Viettel’s network in Vietnam. “Above all, owning the charging system means an operator is not dependent on foreign vendors – it safeguards digital sovereignty and preserves business flexibility.”

“The charging system is where an operator’s business strategy turns into revenue in real time,” said Nguyen Minh Quang, CEO of Viettel High Tech. “We believe vOCS 4.0 is ready to help operators worldwide capture the value of 5G and digital services.”

In 2017, vOCS 4.0’s predecessor, vOCS 3.0, replaced a foreign vendor’s platform for 90 million Viettel subscribers. Across both generations, vOCS serves more than 220 million subscribers in 11 countries. Viettel High Tech now offers vOCS 4.0 to operators worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/viettel-moves-100-million-subscribers-to-home-grown-cloud-native-charging-in-three-months–with-zero-downtime-302920106.html

SOURCE Viettel Group

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